Healthcare professionals’ perception of the implementation of a sensory comfort room in mental health

Abstract

Objective: to analyse the perception and satisfaction of healthcare professionals before and after the implementation of a sensory comfort room in a mental health hospital, as well as its impact on reducing the use of coercive measures and improving the therapeutic environment. Material and methods: an observational, descriptive and longitudinal study with a mixed (quantitative and qualitative) approach. Surveys were administered at three time points: before, three months after, and one year after implementation. Variables analysed included prior expectations, perceived usefulness of the room, impact on reducing coercive measures, patients’ level of anxiety and psychomotor agitation, and the perception of the therapeutic environment and the patient-professional relationship. Results: before implementation, 73% of professionals had positive expectations regarding the room. At three months, 97.5% observed improvements in reducing patients’ anxiety and psychomotor agitation. At one year, 95.2% reported a decrease in the use of coercive measures and an improvement in the therapeutic environment. Opportunities for improvement were identified in the infrastructure and in diversifying the therapeutic activities offered in the room. Conclusions: the active participation of healthcare professionals in implementing a sensory comfort room, together with taking their opinions and subjective perceptions into account, strengthens their involvement and commitment to the project. This facilitates better integration of the room into clinical practice and promotes a more humanized, patient-centred model of care.