Service development manage sensory input . Patients purchased lights , fidget toys and aroma diffusers for their bedrooms . The safety pod was used proactively with one patient instead of restraint .
Service development manage sensory input . Patients purchased lights , fidget toys and aroma diffusers for their bedrooms . The safety pod was used proactively with one patient instead of restraint .
The mobile sensory room was a popular event and attendees shared their resource requests to set up a ward sensory room . These included light panels , tactile resources and a mobile trolley , to meet a range of sensory needs .
Overall , the project led to a significant reduction in head banging incidents over the period . A further valuable finding was the reduction in incidents after 5pm , while a significant reduction in the use of restraint was also documented .
Staff and patients were all positive about the project , with people commenting : ‘ I enjoyed the sensory group and have purchased items for my bedroom ’; ‘ Sensory ladders are helpful and help to share how I feel and what I need ’; ‘ I find fidget toys keep me calm and help me focus in ward rounds ’; ‘ The trailer was amazing , I hope we can reduce ward chaos with this equipment ’; and ‘ All staff should have sensory training ’.
The data collected during the project on restraint usage and number of incidents shows that both have been significantly reduced and this change could be due to staff education on new strategies for de-escalation , new resources being made available to support the provision of calm safe spaces , and the introduction of sensory interventions .
We noted several limitations to this project that have an impact on the reported outcomes , including that the project was undertaken on a single ward . The impact of unidentified and unexplored contextual and organisational factors also remains unknown .
Sensory intervention within occupational therapy is ‘ emerging practice ’ and this project supports further investigations to strengthen the evidence-based practice in this field . Locally , we hope to build on these positive findings with the development of a sensory room and embed the sensory strategy training into the staff induction programme .
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Words JENNIFER BEAL , Head of Occupational Therapy , Beckton Hospital , Blackheath Hospital and Lewisham Lodge , MSc Occupational Therapy and PG Cert Sensory Integration . Acknowledgements : Thank you to Rhino for the sensory resource support and the visit from the sensory trailer .
October 2023 OTnews 43