The Relationship Between Staff Members' Working Conditions and Patients' Perceptions of the Treatment Environment

Jan Ivar Rossberg, Ingrid Melle, Stein Opjordsmoen and Svein Friis
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Jan Ivar Rossberg: Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway, and University of Oslo, 0407 Oslo, Norway, j.i.rxssberg@medisin.uio.no
Ingrid Melle: Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway, and University of Oslo, 0407 Oslo, Norway
Stein Opjordsmoen: Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway, and University of Oslo, 0407 Oslo, Norway
Svein Friis: Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2008, vol. 54, issue 5, 437-446

Abstract: Background: The psychosocial climate of inpatient units has proved to be related to both patient satisfaction and outcome. Aims: The aims of the study were twofold: to study the relationship between patient and staff satisfaction, and to study the relationship between the patients' perception of the treatment environment and the perceived working conditions of the staff. Method: A total of 129 different patients completed the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS) and a General Satisfaction Index (GSI) at 11 time points between 1981 and 2000. Staff members completed the Working Environment Scale-10 (WES-10) and the GSI. Z-scores were calculated to describe the fluctuations in the WAS, WES-10 and the GSI subscale scores. Results: The study revealed a strong correlation between patient satisfaction and staff satisfaction. Staff satisfaction correlated significantly with the WAS subscales of Practical orientation and Staff control. Furthermore, the study revealed a significant correlation between patient satisfaction and staff members' perception on the WES-10 subscale of Self-realization. Conclusion: This exploratory study revealed that the working conditions of staff are related to both patient satisfaction and the patients' perceptions of the treatment environment. A satisfactory working environment for psychiatric staff members seems important for the quality of care perceived by patients.

Keywords: mental health service; patient satisfaction; staff satisfaction; treatment environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:54:y:2008:i:5:p:437-446

DOI: 10.1177/0020764008090689

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