["Ideal" inpatient psychiatric treatment from the viewpoint of the patients]

In this study "ideal" psychiatric inpatient care from the patient's point of view was examined.

Based upon a content analysis of 38 interviews a questionnaire containing 39 items was developed to evaluate attributes of ideal psychiatric inpatient care from the patient's viewpoint. 58 of 116 patients completed the questionnaire; the analysis group was representative for acute psychiatric inpatients.

The patients ranked highly: successful treatment, upholding of human rights, privacy, empathic doctors, competent doctors, free exit, friendly staff. Factor analysis identified four factors that may be called Psychiatric Treatment, Patient Autonomy. Staff Competence, Appointment. The ratings were not associated with sociodemographic or disease-related variables. Therapists' ratings were mostly in agreement with those of the patients', but therapists underestimated the importance of the items free exit, patients' co-influence in treatment planning, respect among the patients. The aspect of patient autonomy was also rarely found in other professionals' questionnaires.

Findings reflecting patients' expectations regarding "ideal" psychiatric inpatient care vary. Validity of former questionnaires is reduced if important aspects of patient satisfaction are disregarded.