Evaluation of a Verbal De-escalation skills training program for psychiatry postgraduate students and nurses - A Quasi-Experimental Study

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a verbal de-escalation skills training program for psychiatry postgraduate students and nurses in managing aggression in psychiatric inpatient settings. The hypothesis is that structured training will improve verbal de-escalation skills and increase confidence in handling aggressive patients. The study population consists of psychiatry postgraduate students and psychiatric ward nurses.

The study employs a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-training assessments. The training module, developed through focus group discussions with experienced psychiatric professionals, includes didactic lectures, role-play exercises, and interactive discussions covering key de-escalation techniques such as empathetic communication, safety maintenance, and conflict resolution.

The primary outcome measures include improvement in verbal de-escalation skills, assessed using the English Modified De-escalating Aggressive Behaviour Scale (EMDABS), and enhanced confidence in managing aggression, measured with an adapted version of the Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument.

Participants will engage in simulated patient interactions before and after training, with video recordings evaluated by blinded raters. Additionally, the study will track hospital incident reports, including the frequency of code white alerts, physical restraints, and sentinel events pre- and post-intervention.

This study fills a critical gap in Indian psychiatric settings by assessing the impact of structured de-escalation training, aiming to create a safer, therapeutic environment for both patients and healthcare workers.