Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by psychotic relapses. Globally, about 15%–30% of patients with schizophrenia discharged from inpatient psychiatric admissions are readmitted within 90 days due to exacerbation of symptoms that leads to self-harm, harm to others, or self-neglect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure and predictors of in-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission among patients with schizophrenia. A new questionnaire was developed to assess the extent to which respondents delivered in-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission among patients with schizophrenia. This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The survey was conducted with the new questionnaires. The participants were registered nurses working in psychiatric wards. Item analyses and exploratory factor analyses were performed using the new questionnaires to investigate the structure of in-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted to examine the factors predicting in-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission. Data were collected from 724 registered nurses in Japan. In-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission was found to consist of five factors: promoting cognitive functioning and self-care, identifying reasons for readmission, establishing cooperative systems within the community, sharing goals about community life, and creating restful spaces. In-hospital nursing care leading to reduction in early readmission was predicted by the following variables: the score on the nursing excellence scale in clinical practice, the score on therapeutic hold, and the participation of community care providers in pre-discharge conferences. Japanese psychiatric nurses provide nursing care based on these five factors leading to reduction in early readmission. Such nursing care would be facilitated by not only nurses’ excellence but also nurses’ environmental factors, especially the therapeutic climate of the ward and the participation of community care providers in pre-discharge conferences.

When persons with mental disorders attempt to live independently in the community, they face situations where they must decide whether to disclose their disorder (i.e., "come out"), which will affect self-concept, self-stigma, and empowerment. We conducted a self-reported questionnaire among users of psychiatric daycare facilities (N = 150) to gather correlational data on these variables among others. Sixty-one percent had positive intentions to come out, which was influenced by affirmativeness and self-efficacy. More participants with mood disorders intended on coming out than did those with schizophrenia. Satisfaction with social support encouraged coming-out affirmativeness and autonomy, providing implications for caregivers.

[Purpose] To support home care patients through specialist teams, it is important that home-visiting specialists recognize the roles of other professionals. The present study aimed to determine whether home-visiting specialists recognized the roles of various other professionals. [Subjects and Methods] The study population comprised 400 nurses, 400 rehabilitation specialists, and 122 managerial dieticians providing home medical care. A questionnaire examining whether the home-visiting specialists recognize the roles of various other professionals was mailed to the participants. Returned questionnaires indicated agreement for participation in this study. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, 49 nurses (response rate: 12.3%), 74 rehabilitation specialists (18.5%), and 42 managerial dieticians (34.4%) were included in the study. [Results] Among all the professionals, the recognition of roles of their own profession was greater than that of other professions, as indicated by their response to the question “to explain possible changes in symptoms and how to deal with possible changes in symptoms.” Unlike in case of other professionals, role recognition among managerial dieticians was less than 70% for all items. [Conclusion] Home medical care teams do not always comprise the most suitable professionals. An understanding of how to compensate for gaps in professional roles is therefore important. Good physical assessment skills and an understanding of symptoms of various disorders is important, regardless of the profession.