Lessons from an audit of psychoeducation at an older adolescent inpatient unit

The aim of this paper was to determine if patients undergoing treatment at an older adolescent inpatient unit receive psychoeducation according to the unit philosophy of providing timely and pertinent information regarding illness/diagnosis, medication, diet, outpatient follow-up, and alcohol/ drug use.

Data were gathered prospectively as part of a quality assurance initiative at the Christchurch Youth Inpatient Unit. Patients were interviewed by a registered nurse using a structured audit tool.

Participants reported receiving adequate information on medication and illness, and most received information on outpatient follow-up and alcohol and drug use. However, the majority reported a lack of information/ advice about diet. Patients' reported awareness of relapse prevention and the relationship of alcohol and other drugs use to medication and treatment was lower than expected.

The audit highlighted areas of discrepancy between information staff believed they had delivered and information youth perceived as received. Psychiatric staff working with young people need be aware of the timing, language and mode of delivery of psychoeducation to enable their patients to 'take in' the information provided.