Improving the therapeutic relationship in inpatient psychiatric care: Assessment of the therapeutic alliance and empathy after implementing evidence-based practices resulting from participatory action research

PurposeTo examine how evidence about the therapeutic alliance gleaned from participatory action project affected the level of this alliance and the degree of empathy of psychiatric nurses. Design and MethodsQuasi-experimental study in two psychiatric units. In one group, evidence-based practices that affected the therapeutic alliance were implemented; in the comparison group, there was no such intervention. FindingsThe nurses from the intervention group improved their degree of empathy and factors such as agreement on objectives and tasks with the patient. Practice ImplicationsThe results confirm the possibility of measuring and improving the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric care.