'It's Not All About Medication': Improving the Use of Sensory Approaches in an Acute Mental Health Unit-A Qualitative Analysis.

The study was done in one acute mental health ward, so the findings may not fit other services. Only seven staff were interviewed, from a small pool of 19 staff who had worked in the ward before and after the project. The study asked staff about their perceptions; it did not measure patient outcomes, medication use, seclusion, restraint or sensory plan use. Two participants were unsure whether reduced seclusion and restraint was related to the sensory project. The first author led the implementation project and had previously worked as an occupational therapist in the ward, so insider bias was possible. The participants came from different disciplines and experience levels, which may have made the findings less complete.

Do not read this as proof that sensory approaches reduce distress, PRN medication, seclusion or restraint. The study interviewed seven staff about their perceptions, did not measure patient outcomes, and participants said they had no measurement showing the reduction in seclusion and restraint was caused by the project.