%0 Journal Article
%T SafeVRwards: Designing a complementary virtual reality module to the Safewards framework intended to relax and manage conflict in mental health wards.
%A Pardini S
%A Kim S
%A de Jesus B
%A Lopes MKS
%A Leggett K
%A Falk TH
%A Smith C
%A Appel L
%J BMJ Open Qual
%V 13
%N 2
%D 2024 Jun 4
%M 38834370
暂无%R 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-002769
%X BACKGROUND: Aggression and negative activation in mental health inpatient units pose significant challenges for both patients and staff with severe physical and psychological ramifications. The Safewards model is an evidence-based conflict-containment framework including 10 strategies, such as 'Calm Down Methods'. As virtual reality (VR) scenarios have successfully enhanced anxiolytic and deactivating effects of therapeutic interventions, they are increasingly considered a means to enhance current models, like Safewards.
OBJECTIVE: The present participatory design investigates the feasibility and user experience of integrating VR therapy as an add-on strategy to the Safewards model, gathering preliminary data and qualitative feedback from bedside staff in an adult inpatient mental health unit.
METHODS: An exploratory within-subjects design combining qualitative observations, self-report questionnaires and semistructured interviews is employed with four nurse champions from the mental health unit at Michael Garron Hospital (Toronto, Canada).
RESULTS: A chronological overview of the design process, adaptations and description of the user experience is reported.
CONCLUSIONS: 'SafeVRwards' introduces VR as a promising conflic-containment strategy complementary to the Safewards model, which can be optimised for deployment through user-oriented refinements and enhanced customisation capacity driven by clinical staff input.