Activity Patterns and the Use of Space by Patients and Staff on the Psychiatric Ward

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Abstract
The differences between patients and staff in the use of time and space on the ward were much greater than between different patient groups and different staff groups. Patients spent considerably more time involved in isolated behaviours, active and passive, and in mixed active behaviours, while staff spent more time in social activities and looking after ward routine. Also, patients spent a large percentage of their time in the bedrooms and very little in staff offices, while the staff spent a large percentage of time in the offices and very little in the bedrooms. However, differences between patient groups do exist — chronic patients were more likely to be involved in isolated passive behaviours and spend a larger percentage of time in the bedrooms. Female active patients were more likely to be involved in isolated passive behaviours than male active patients, and were also more likely to be found in their bedrooms. Finally, male patients were liable to be involved in mixed activities, especially industrial therapy. Differences between the staff of different wards in the use of time and space were small — the staff of the female wards spent more time in the dining rooms while those of the chronic ward were usually involved in isolated passive behaviours. Differences between male and female staff were similar to differences between male and female patients. Female staff spent more time in their own ‘territory’ (the staff offices) and they were more often observed in isolated passive behaviour. Male staff were more likely to be involved in mixed activities with patients, especially industrial therapy. The activity patterns of the various locations were very similar across the wards although marked differences existed between staff and patients. Patients used bedrooms for isolated passive behaviours and staff used bedrooms for talking and routine. Staff were much more likely to use sitting rooms for social behaviour than were patients. Washrooms were used by both staff and patients for isolated active behaviours, such as reading.

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