Biomaterial Database

The problems of researching mixed sex wards. 1997

D Batcup

Bethlem & Maudsley NHS Trust, London, England.

The following paper discusses the process of doing research on a sensitive and politically charged topic; 'mixed sex' psychiatric wards. It also highlights the conceptual and methodological difficulties of carrying out this enquiry. The particular deconstruction presented is suggested as knowledge or data alone, even though they are rarely found in finished research projects. It starts by setting the broader context of the research at The Bethlem and Maudsley Trust by looking at National policy, other studies in this subject area and media attention. It shows the triggers that caused a re-evaluation and changes in the original research question and assumptions about 'mixed sex' wards. It accounts for the research as it happens, rather than presenting a sanitised process of discovery. This forms the basis for describing some of the dilemmas for carrying out the in-depth research; showing how the reconfigured research subject became focused on the safety and effectiveness of 'mixed sex' wards for women. The grounded methodological approach to this study is outlined and the paradoxes it identified in psychiatric discourse are mentioned. Exerts of findings from three separate research studies at The Bethlem and Maudsley Trust are given and discussed. The conclusion analyses the complexities of the subject and suggests that the "mixed sex' ward problem may be the contemporary emergence of a much older and fundamental problematic inherent to psychiatry. Consequently, no simple answer is recommended.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010344	Patient Advocacy	Promotion and protection of the rights of patients, frequently through a legal process.	Patient Ombudsmen,Patient Representatives,Clinical Ombudsman,Patient Ombudsman,Advocacy, Patient,Ombudsman, Clinical,Ombudsman, Patient,Ombudsmen, Patient,Patient Representative,Representative, Patient,Representatives, Patient
D010362	Patients' Rooms	Rooms occupied by one or more individuals during a stay in a health facility. The concept includes aspects of environment, design, care, or economics.	Private Rooms,Rooms, Patient,Semi-Private Rooms,Wards, General,General Ward,General Wards,Patient Room,Patient Rooms,Patient's Rooms,Patients Rooms,Patients' Room,Private Room,Room, Patient,Room, Patients',Room, Private,Room, Semi-Private,Rooms, Patients',Rooms, Private,Rooms, Semi-Private,Semi Private Rooms,Semi-Private Room,Ward, General
D011567	Psychiatric Department, Hospital	Hospital department responsible for the organization and administration of psychiatric services.	Hospital Psychiatric Department,Psychiatric Departments, Hospital,Department, Hospital Psychiatric,Departments, Hospital Psychiatric,Hospital Psychiatric Departments
D004739	England	A part of Great Britain within the United Kingdom.
D005260	Female		Females
D006291	Health Policy	Decisions, usually developed by government policymakers, for determining present and future objectives pertaining to the health care system.	Health Care Policies,Health Policies,Healthcare Policy,National Health Policy,Care Policies, Health,Health Care Policy,Health Policy, National,Healthcare Policies,National Health Policies,Policies, Health,Policies, Health Care,Policies, Healthcare,Policy, Health,Policy, Health Care,Policy, Healthcare
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D015399	Nursing Research	Research carried out by nurses, generally in clinical settings, in the areas of clinical practice, evaluation, nursing education, nursing administration, and methodology.	Research, Nursing