Health management demands of primary caregivers of psychiatric inpatients after discharge

Abstract

Objective To investigate the demand of health management of psychiatric patients primary caregivers after discharge, and to provide references for the health management of patients after discharge. Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used. One hundred and eighty two primary caregivers of patients to be discharged in psychiatric department were enrolled. Results 96.15% of caregivers had demands of health management for patients after discharge. In the content of management, the highest score was relapse prevention related knowledge (4.75±0.23), the lowest score was the vocational skills training (2.74±0.47). The highest demand of health management mode of patients after discharge from hospital was telephone follow-up, totally 158 caregivers (86.81%), followed by medical personnel on-site guidance, totally 139 caregivers (76.37%). In the management of frequency, most of the caregivers selected telephone and SMS follow-up once per half a month, or medical personnel on-site guidance once per two months; or designated medical expert consultants once per month. In the management period, 3 to 6 months after discharge was the mainly choice. Conclusions The main caregivers of patients after discharge from hospital has strong demand of health management. The hospital should establish reasonable health management service system according to the needs and wishes of patients, and carry out targeted content rich, diverse forms, a specific number of health management services, to improve the patient’s family function, promote the recovery of social function of patients, to reduce the relapse rate and disabled rate. Key words: Mentally ill persons; Discharge; Primary caregivers; Health management; Demand