OKUDA; Jun^1*, KAZAMA; Mari²

^1*Faculty of Nursing School of Medicine, Nara Medical University (j-okuda@naramed-u.ac.jp)
²Faculty of Nursing, Mejiro University

This paper presents the results of a preliminary study clarifying the relationship-building process involving patients admitted to Medical Treatment and Supervision Act (MTSA) ward and nurses. We conducted semi-structured interviews with two nurses who had experience working in MTSA wards to gain insight as to how they perceived patients when building relationships with them and changes in feelings toward the patients as treatment progressed. The content was analyzed with reference to the modified grounded theory approach. Results show that the nurses sought to have an understanding of patients1. The core of their actions was the belief that negative impressions can be overcome to motivate oneself. By applying their personal beliefs, the nurses deepened their understanding of patients. In the process of understanding, the nurses conducted consistent engagement with the patient while feeling that the patient’s psychological and physical aspects were improving, which was conflicting with understanding the wavering of the patient’s mental state and involvement according to that mental state and involvement that allows the patient to take proactive actions (i.e., involvement with patients). Repetitions of this process are thought to foster relationship-building between patients and nurses. Given that the relationship building between forensic psychiatry patients and nurses is reported to reduce recidivism, the results of this study could be used to prevent patients from recidivating and to promote social rehabilitation. However, this is a preliminary study, so there is a need to collect more data based on the results and clarify the process of relationship-building between patients and nurses.
Keywords: forensic psychiatry patient, patient-nurse relationship, relationship-building process, Medical Treatment and Supervision Act