Abstract
BackgroundA political movement towards building alternatives to long-term hospitalization of psychiatric patients in Korea has gained momentum. We aimed to provide sturdy foundation needed to formulate the most rational policy by review of caregiver’s opinion to the political alternatives under discussion for facilitating discharge of long-term stayed psychiatric patients in Korea.DiscussionCaregivers in Korea, whose family members had been hospitalized longer than 6 months and all of whom applied to the Mental Health Review Board (MHRB) for an examination required for extended stay, have shown reluctance to take their patients back home. Especially, a half of them answered that if MHRB would order compulsory discharge, they would take their patients to another hospital instead of living together. Despite of those pessimistic attitudes, one of the promising solutions might be residential care as an alternative to the long-term hospital care, which is most preferred by caregivers.ConclusionAfter all, the issue of who should take an accountability of the psychiatric patients is essential in establishing mental health policy. Korean government should analyze and reform mental health delivery systems such as residential service system, community-based case management programs and hospital treatment systems including payment program which can facilitate reasonable decision by professionals as well as caregivers for the appropriate admission rather than longer term hospitalizations.
Highlights
A political movement towards building alternatives to long-term hospitalization of psychiatric patients in Korea has gained momentum
After all, the issue of who should take an accountability of the psychiatric patients is essential in establishing mental health policy
The caregivers’ responses concerning alternatives to long-term hospitalization We targeted psychiatric patients’ caregivers who have applied to the Mental Health Review Board (MHRB) for an examination required for continued hospitalization
Summary
The caregivers’ responses concerning alternatives to long-term hospitalization We targeted psychiatric patients’ caregivers who have applied to the Mental Health Review Board (MHRB) for an examination required for continued hospitalization. In general, the caregivers requesting continuation of hospitalization to Mental Health Review Board did not respond positively to the government policies. Eighty percent of the participants cared for psychiatric patients who received Medical Aid. The high rate of long-term hospitalization in Medical Aid recipients could because the disease characteristics became chronic or because the inpatient treatment did not impose great financial burden on the caregivers. In Korea, families have the authority to determine the admission as well as the discharge of those under their care At this point, almost the only role that could be taken on by the country is providing financial support for Medical Aid patients’ hospital stay. Adequate supply strategy, where the establishment and promotion of the housing services are in accordance with their demands, may be needed
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