Pilot study of the effectiveness of a group nursing intervention to support the hospitalization process in mental health

Abstract

Introduction: a group nursing intervention to support the psychiatric hospitalization process has been designed and carried out, consisting of facilitating peer therapeutic support and providing tools for managing psychological suffering on the part of mental health nursing. This is framed within Peplau’s model of interpersonal relations and under the precepts of collective mental health (CMH), mutual help groups (MHG) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the group intervention. Material and methods: a quasi-experimental study with a single post-test and a single group, made up of an experimental group that receives the group intervention. The population are the patients admitted to the Acute and Subacute Unit of the Mental Health Service of the Consorci Corporació Sanitària Hospital Parc Taulí, and the sample (n = 18, selected accidentally) are the patients who were admitted to that unit during the research period. To measure effectiveness, a self-designed questionnaire was used, following the reference literature, as there is no validated instrument that explores the variables analysed (awareness of illness, perceived social support, perceived therapeutic support and well-being in the unit). A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out with the corresponding statistical tests. Results and discussion: interventions based on ACT, MHG and CMH are effective tools for reducing psychological distress and providing patients with self-care and empowerment strategies. All of the above supports the literature consulted. Conclusions: the intervention designed could improve the variables studied. The instrument designed is valid for measuring the variables (which invites its validation). These findings propose opening new lines of research.