Indicators of quality of in-patient psychiatric treatment: the patients' view.

Abstract

The object of this study was to find out from psychiatric in-patients which aspects of care and treatment they considered important and how satisfied they were with these. One hundred and ninety-four in-patients were asked to rate the importance of, and their satisfaction with, 22 different aspects of in-patient care and treatment. The questionnaire, developed for the purpose of the study after a pilot phase including professional care givers and patients, contained 92 items and was returned by 52% of all discharged patients from the Psychiatric university hospital during a 3-month period. Patients made a clear distinction between aspects of treatment they considered important and aspects they were satisfied with. Ranked of highest importance were various therapeutic relationships, and respect for their rights and privileges. They were satisfied with their relationships with clinical staff but dissatisfied with medication. A well differentiated assessment of importance and satisfaction has implications for the evaluation of the quality of psychiatric care, for specific methods of treatment, and for the improvement of in-patient psychiatric care.