Improving Acute Psychiatric Hospital Services According to Inpatient Experiences. A User-Led Piece of Research as a Means to Empowerment

Abstract

This paper has been undertaken by people with experience with mental health issues and mental health care systems. The aim of the research was to explore psychiatric inpatients' strategies for coping with mental ill health and in what ways acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services are facilitative to the individual attempting recovery. Ten focus groups were facilitated and data were analysed through systematic content analysis. Findings revealed that the main areas of concern for inpatients were: information, communication, relationships, activities, self-help, patient involvement in care treatment plans, and the physical environment. The authors also make a case to improve the status of user-led research as a means to understand the needs of mental health service users.

"I Want to Go Home, but I Need to Stay": The Transition to become Ready for Discharge from Acute Psychiatric Wards, as Narrated by Persons Who Experienced Acute Psychotic Illness

“…When nurses initiated the plan to discharge participants from acute psychiatric wards, the participants expressed both their wish to go home and their need to stay on the ward because they needed to feel better before leaving. These results correspond with those of previous studies reporting that persons want to adjust the timing of discharge based on their experience of the illness, care needs and social needs related to their personal circumstances [18,19,21]. In addition, our results show that the participants' awareness of the transition was related to their experience of the changes in their acute psychotic illness and insight about their need of mental health nursing care on the ward before the discharge.…”

“…[11,13,14]) recommend the transitional care adjusted to persons' narrated experiences about their situation and care needs, and provided within partnership and cooperation between the person in care and the mental health nurses. We know that the nurses and the persons in care may have different understanding about the time for discharge, and about their medical and care needs [18,19]. We also know that some persons who suffer from severe mental illness and substance abuse may have limited economy, bad housing facilities or being homeless which must be considered by the nurse during the discharge planning [17].…”

“…One interview study found that nurses did not consider persons' opinions about the timing of discharge, for example, discharge before the weekend when community mental health care services are less available and the risk of loneliness and of misusing alcohol and drugs increases for some persons [18]. In a review study, Glasby and Lester [19] reported poor timing in terms of both delayed and early discharge of persons in care.…”

“…In a review study, Glasby and Lester [19] reported poor timing in terms of both delayed and early discharge of persons in care. Persons in care wished that nurses provided specific information about their needs after discharge, such as where they could go and whom they could contact if a new crisis occurred after discharge [18]. Another study showed that nurses' discharge planning was mostly positive but that some areas should be improved.…”

Patients’ subjective perspective on recovery orientation on an acute psychiatric unit

“…The staff training focused on improvement in communication, therapeutic relationship, and fostering self-help (31). The structural reorganization aimed at enhancing transparency and patient involvement.…”