title: "Providing structure" as a psychiatric nursing intervention: a review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The focus is on a nursing intervention called "providing structure" (PS). This label does not exist in the Nursing Interventions Classification. The following three questions were asked: (a) How is PS defined? (b) What are the goals of PS? and (c) What is the evidence regarding the effectiveness of PS?
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review. Forty articles, predominantly qualitative studies of PS, were selected for review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding PS, three elements were mentioned: to impose and maintain rules and limits; to assess the condition of the patient; and to interact with the patient. The goals for PS related to patient security, making expectations explicit, and recovering from illness. Major findings were reviewed, but little was found about the effectiveness of PS.
authors.affiliation: Regio Noordwest, Philadelphia Zorg, Heerhugowaard, Netherlands; Mental Health Care Hospital GGZ Noord-Holland Noord, Heiloo, Netherlands; Quality of Care/Nursing Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: L Amar
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Voogt
authors.forename: Annet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nugter
authors.forename: Peter J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Achterberg
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000592:standards; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Providing structure; limit setting; nursing intervention; psychiatric nursing; restrictiveness; use of structure