Related Experiment Videos
Treatment characteristics of effective psychiatric programs
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|June 1, 1984
Summary
Effective psychiatric programs are linked to specific ward characteristics. Key factors include less perceived ward order, reduced nurse shift rotations, fewer passive patients, and adjusted medication strategies for improved patient community adjustment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The Veterans Administration (VA) conducted a large cooperative study to identify characteristics of effective psychiatric programs.
- Previous research within the VA study focused on ward setting characteristics and their impact on program outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze 123 treatment characteristics to identify factors associated with effective psychiatric ward programs.
- To determine the relationship between specific ward treatment characteristics and patient post-hospital community adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 123 treatment characteristics using data from the Veterans Adjustment Scale and Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale.
- Four measures of patient post-hospital community adjustment were utilized as outcome variables.
Main Results:
- Six treatment characteristics were significantly associated with better patient outcomes.
- These characteristics include perceived ward order, nursing staff shift rotations, patient social passivity, patients off the ward, antipsychotic medication at discharge, and minor tranquilizer dosage.
- These six factors explained 29% of the variance in patient adjustment outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Psychiatric ward programs vary in their effectiveness in promoting patient post-hospital community adjustment.
- Both ward setting characteristics and specific treatment characteristics significantly influence patient adjustment after hospitalization.