title: Educating Mental Health Clinicians About Sensory Modulation to Enhance Clinical Practice in a Youth Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit: A Feasibility Study.
abstract: There is an emergence of literature describing effective sensory modulation (SM) interventions to de-escalate violence and aggression among mental health inpatients. However, the evidence is limited to adult settings, with the effect of SM in youth acute settings unknown. Yet, before SM may be used as a de-escalation intervention in youth acute settings, multidisciplinary staff need to be educated about and supported in the clinical application of SM. In the current study, an online SM education package was developed to assist mental health staff understand SM. This was blended with action learning sets (ALS), small group experiential opportunities consisting staff and consumers to learn about SM resources, and the support of SM trained nurses. The aims of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of this SM education intervention in (a) transferring knowledge of SM to staff, and (b) translating this knowledge into practice in a youth acute inpatient mental health unit. A mixed methods research design with an 11-item pre- and post-education questionnaire was used along with three-month follow-up focus groups. The SM education improved understanding about SM (all 11-items p ≤ 0.004, r ≥ 0.47). Three-months after SM education, four themes evident in the focus group data emerged about the practice and process of SM; (1) translating of learning into practice, (2) SM in practice, (3) perceptions of SM benefits, and (4) limitations of SM. A blended SM education process enhanced clinical practice in the unit, yet participants were mindful of limitations of SM in situations of distress or escalating agitation.
authors.affiliation: a NorthWestern Mental Health, Orygen Youth Health , Footscray , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.affiliation: b Auckland University of Technology, School of Clinical Sciences , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: c NorthWestern Mental Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital , Parlkville , Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: d NorthWestern Mental Health, Psychosocial Research Centre , Coburg , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hitch
authors.affiliation: a NorthWestern Mental Health, Orygen Youth Health , Footscray , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.affiliation: a NorthWestern Mental Health, Orygen Youth Health , Footscray , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLennan
authors.affiliation: e Australian Catholic University , School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Faculty of Health Science , Fitzroy , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Trentham
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furness
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult