The patient's perspective on "providing structure" in psychiatric inpatient care: an interview study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To gain insight into the patients' experiences on providing structure (PS) as a nursing intervention during psychiatric inpatient care. DESIGN AND METHOD: Interviews were conducted with patients (n = 17) from two inpatient wards within a mental healthcare organization. For data analysis, a qualitative coding process was followed. FINDINGS: The patients' expectations for PS were described. One expectation seemed to reflect key concern: the need to maintain autonomy. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study reveals the patients' views about PS. When the importance of PS is mentioned, nurses can refer to our description of PS. We were able to further stipulate the required activities of PS and provide for an adapted definition of PS.