NURSES' PERCEPTIONS ON THE READMISSION OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS ONE YEAR AFTER DISCHARGE

Abstract

A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 10 nurses working with psychiatric patients was conducted in 2012. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nurses' perceptions on the readmission of psychiatric patients within one year of discharge from Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Tesch's method of data analysis was used to identify the nurses' perceptions on the readmissions of psychiatric patients one year after discharge. The results of this study affirmed the reasons known in literature about factors associated with re-admissions, which include lack of family support, poor adherence to medications and substance and alcohol use. However, a unique finding of the study was the cultural interpretation of psychiatric illness that led to poor compliance. The study concluded that cultural interpretation of mental illness is among the many causes of readmission of psychiatric patients and may be an overarching factor. The study recommends that a study be done on exploring the cultural interpretations of psychiatric illness and the impact of those interpretations on the readmission of psychiatric patients.