WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Recovery-oriented services have been shown to promote recovery in people with mental illness; their implementation is important for current psychiatric practice and is being considered by many professional institutions. The Japanese government released the policy ‘A Vision for Reform of Mental Health and Medical Welfare’ (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2004; https://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/2004/09/dl/tp0902-1a.pdf), aiming to update public consciousness, reorganize the mental healthcare welfare system and strengthen the foundation of mental healthcare to promote a basic policy focusing on the transition ‘from hospital to community life’. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This is the first study to clarify recovery-oriented attitudes among psychiatric nursing directors and related factors in Japan. It shows an association between recovery-oriented attitudes and hospital size. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: A relationship exists between the recovery knowledge and recovery-oriented attitudes of psychiatric nursing directors. It may thus be valuable for directors to see and hear about the experiences of patients living in the community during their recovery process. As hospital size and organizational climate may hinder the successful implementation of recovery-oriented practices, these factors must be considered when introducing such practices. Further research is needed on the relationship between psychiatric nursing directors’ recovery-oriented attitudes and practices. Moreover, to develop intervention studies that uncover success factors for enhancing recovery-oriented attitudes, organizational factors that enable recovery-oriented practices must be further investigated.
INTRODUCTION: Recovery-oriented practices in mental health services have become a global priority. Despite their proven effectiveness, Japanese hospitals have not widely implemented such practices.
This study clarified psychiatric nursing directors’ recovery-oriented attitudes and factors regarding promoting recovery-oriented practices to identify methods for developing these practices in Japan.
This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire survey with 250 nursing directors from 1287 Japanese psychiatric hospitals. Multivariable regression analysis assessed how socio-demographic variables and Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) scores affected Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ-7) scores.
The analysis revealed that more clinical and managerial experience was associated with more negative recovery-oriented attitudes. High RKI scores, knowledge of strength, hospital size and outpatient work experience were associated with more positive recovery-oriented attitudes.
Implementing recovery practices requires consideration of knowledge and experience in recovery and hospital size alongside recovery training based on a hospital’s organizational structure. Although the low response rate could influence the study’s generalisability, it could also indicate low interest in recovery-oriented practices among professionals.
Acquiring more knowledge and experience regarding recovery promotes recovery-oriented attitudes among nursing directors. An appropriate organizational culture and consideration of hospital size are required when introducing such recovery practices.

© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.