Inpatients' views of staff-patient discussions about major treatment decisions

A questionnaire survey of 51 patients voluntarily admitted to a Canadian psychiatric hospital was used to obtain their views of discussions they held with hospital staff about major treatment decisions, including whether selected treatment issues were discussed. Patients indicated that they most frequently discussed admission or discharge rather than inhospital treatment decisions with staff, that they most frequently discussed the advantages rather than the disadvantages associated with a decision, and that they were largely satisfied with staff consultation about admission and discharge but not about inhospital treatment decisions. The findings indicate that the patients were not informed enough about inhospital treatment to be able to give a valid consent for treatment. Patient, staff, and organizational factors that can impede staff-patient communication about treatment decisions are discussed.