Abstract
Several studies from psychiatric institutions and hospitals in Thailand have reported a
prevalence of excessive water intake among psychiatric patients, ranging from 6% to 17%,
with water intoxication observed in approximately 25% to 50% of chronic psychiatric
patients. Polydipsia, or excessive water intake, is often overlooked due to the assumption
that drinking large amounts of water is normal. However, this behavior can lead to water
intoxication, resulting in patients being isolated in rooms without access to proper sanitation
facilities. Temporary solutions, such as providing buckets for urination, have led to unsanitary
living conditions, including unpleasant odors, dirty walls and floors, and an increased risk of
germ transmission. Additionally, patients face safety hazards, such as slipping on wet floors
or mishandling the urine buckets, potentially pouring urine on themselves. To address these
issues and improve the quality of life for male psychiatric patients in isolation, research was
undertaken to develop a mobile male urinal with a water usage limit and deodorizing
system, aimed at reducing these risks and promoting a healthier living environment.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of the innovative odor-limiting mobile male urinal and to
further develop and enhance its design for use in isolated rooms designated for male
psychiatric patients.
Methodology:
This research and development (R&D) study focuses on the creation and evaluation of an
innovative odor-limiting mobile male urinal. In Phase 1, a prototype was tested with a small
user group. In Phase 2, the improved prototype was tested over a 3-month period in a
psychiatric isolation room within a hospital psychiatric ward for male patients. Quantitative
data collection tools included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and the
Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U Test to compare outcomes between the group using
a traditional toilet and the group using the innovation. Additionally, a one-sample t-test was
employed to assess satisfaction with the innovation against predetermined criteria.
Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis to identify key themes for further
refinement of the urinal, with the goal of promoting hygiene in isolation rooms for male
psychiatric patients with behavioral restrictions.
Results:
The study results demonstrated the effectiveness of the innovative odor-limiting mobile
urinal in isolation rooms for male psychiatric patients. A comparison of hygiene between the
control group, using the traditional urinal, and the experimental group, using the innovative
mobile urinal, revealed significant differences. The independent t-test showed that the
highest daily ammonia levels before cleaning were significantly higher in the control group
than in the experimental group at the .05 level, t(df) = 21.75 (76.45), p < .001. The control
group also required significantly more time for cleaning compared to the experimental
group, with t(df) = 3.32 (113.95), p = .001. The Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U Test,
used to compare total scores from expert evaluations, indicated a statistically significant
difference between the groups at the .05 level, Mann-Whitney U(SE) = 81.00 (10.468), p <
.001. Additionally, an assessment of risks from observations over three months identified key
issues in the control group, including unhygienic urination behavior and odor and stains in
the surrounding area, while the experimental group faced challenges with equipment
unavailability and misuse of the urinals.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study indicate that the odor-limiting mobile urinal effectively reduces the
workload associated with managing psychiatric patients in isolation rooms, notably
decreasing both cleaning time and the incidence of accidents. Furthermore, the use of this
innovation significantly promotes hygiene within the isolation rooms, contributing to a
cleaner and safer environment for patients.
