Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1/187
Title: Psychogeriatric inpatient unit design: A literature review
Authors: Dobrohotoff, John T ;Llewellyn-Jones, Robert H 
Issue Date: Mar-2011
Source: Volume 23, Issue 2, pp. 174-189
Journal title: International Psychogeriatrics
Department: Aged Care
Abstract: Background: In many parts of the world the provision of psychogeriatric inpatient units (PGUs) remains limited. More units will be required over coming decades given rapid population aging. Methods: Medline (1950–2010), psycINFO (1806–2009), EMBASE (1980–2009) and CINAHL (1982– 2009) were searched for papers about PGU design. Selected non-peer reviewed literature such as government reports and unpublished academic dissertations were also reviewed. Data were also obtained from the literature related to general adult psychiatry inpatient units where there was limited information from studies of units designed for older people. Over 200 papers were reviewed and 130 were included. Results: There are few good quality studies to guide the design of acute PGUs and much of the existing literature is based on opinion and anecdote or, at best, based on observational studies. Randomized controlled studies comparing different designs and assessing outcomes are virtually non-existent. Several studies have identified violence and trauma resulting from hospitalization as significant problems with current acute PGU care. Despite its limitations the available literature provides useful guidance on how PGU design can optimize patient and staff safety and improve clinical outcomes. Conclusions: There are significant problems with current acute PGUs, and patient mix on existing units is an important issue. Future research should examine patient and staff perceptions of different PGU ward environments, the relationship between ward design and clinical outcomes, the effects of segregating patients with challenging behaviours in dementia and the benefits or otherwise of gender segregation.
URI: https://elibrary.cclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/cclhdjspui/handle/1/187
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610210002097
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21092352
ISSN: 1041-6102
Publicaton type: Journal Article
Keywords: Psychiatry
Aged
Nursing
Study or Trial: Reviews/Systematic Reviews
Appears in Collections:Health Service Research

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