A Pilot Study: Only when health care staff and clients work together as a team can unit quality be evaluated and improved

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services Vol. 42; no. 5; p. 36
• Main Authors: DeMarco, Rosanna, Flaherty, Linda, Glod, Carol, Merrill, Nancy, Terk, Karen, Plasse, Mechele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare SLACK INCORPORATED 01-05-2004
• Subjects: Caregivers; Collaboration; Mental health care; Nursing schools; Outpatient care facilities; Perceptions; Pilot projects; Professionals; Teaching hospitals; Therapists; United States > US
• ISSN: 0279-3695; 1938-2413
• DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20040301-01

This pilot study compared psychiatric health care team membersâ[euro](TM) perceptions of unit quality with discharged clientsâ[euro](TM) perceptions of quality of care received on the unit. The staff members were from four different service units in one acute care psychiatric facility. The study used the Perceptions of Unit Quality (PUQ) scale, a valid and reliable outcome measurement instrument, developed by Cronenwett. Most quality assurance instruments that exist have focused on individual caregiversâ[euro](TM) or service-specific views of quality, but the PUQ scale allows quality assurance data that represent team performance to be described through team perceptions of quality. Results of this pilot study suggest that use of the PUQ scale, in conjunction with clientsâ[euro](TM) perceptions of unit quality, may be a legitimate approach in continuous quality improvement efforts in psychiatric-mental health care centers.