Abstract
Background. There is a lack of studies assessing the profile and outcome of psychiatric patients at entry-level public hospitals that are prescribed by the Mental Health Care Act to provide a decentralised model of psychiatric care. Objective. To assess the demographic and clinical profile as well as length of stay and outcomes of mental healthcare users admitted to a district-level public hospital in the Western Cape. Method. Demographic data, clinical diagnosis, length of stay, referral profile and outcomes of patients ( N =487) admitted to Helderberg Hospital during the period 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2011 were collected. Results. Psychotic disorders were the most prevalent ( n =287, 59%) diagnoses, while 228 (47%) of admission episodes had comorbid/secondary diagnoses. Substance use disorders were present in 184 (38%) of admission episodes, 37 (57%) of readmissions and 19 (61%) of abscondments. Most admission episodes ( n =372, 76%) were discharged without referral to specialist/tertiary care. Conclusion. Methamphetamine use places a significant burden on the provision of mental healthcare services at entry-level care. Recommendations for improving service delivery at this district-level public hospital are provided.
Highlights
There is a lack of studies assessing the profile and outcome of psychiatric patients at entry-level public hospitals that are prescribed by the Mental Health Care Act to provide a decentralised model of psychiatric care
Demographic data showed that the average age of patients admitted was 34 years and that most were males, while clinical data showed that psychosis was most frequently recorded, and usually related to substance abuse, of methamphetamine
It is further noteworthy that only 18% were transferred to specialist/tertiary psychiatric hospitals, while 76% of admission episodes who received treatment were discharged into the community, in accordance with the objectives set out in the Mental Health Care Act No 17 (MHCA), which promotes a decentralised model
Summary
There is a lack of studies assessing the profile and outcome of psychiatric patients at entry-level public hospitals that are prescribed by the Mental Health Care Act to provide a decentralised model of psychiatric care. To assess the demographic and clinical profile as well as length of stay and outcomes of mental healthcare users admitted to a district-level public hospital in the Western Cape. Demographic data, clinical diagnosis, length of stay, referral profile and outcomes of patients (N=487) admitted to Helderberg Hospital during the period 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2011 were collected. Substance use disorders were present in 184 (38%) of admission episodes, 37 (57%) of readmissions and 19 (61%) of abscondments. Methamphetamine use places a significant burden on the provision of mental healthcare services at entry-level care. Recommendations for improving service delivery at this district-level public hospital are provided
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