ABSTRACT
This research concerns the recording of safety measures in acute mental health wards of psychiatric hospitals in the greater area of Athens. The practices of control and testing on patients performed by nurses are also reported. The total sample consists of 14 acute inpatient psychiatric wards. The results indicated that important differences were noticed in the controls and prohibitions. Moreover, the main characteristic was the lack of protocols and measures of safety, a situation that burdened nursing practice. The lack of rules and strategies that would promote the safety of patient, professionals and therapeutic milieu, were brought into light by nurses' quotes.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the dimensions of perceived burden by caregivers-relatives of patients suffering from schizophrenia and participating in a rehabilitation programme (group A) compared to a group of patients and their corresponding caregivers who were maintained in regular treatment procedure (group B). Subjective and objective burden perceived by caregivers group A patients attending a rehabilitation programme, was found to be lower compared to that of group B of caregivers of patients in regular maintenance treatment. Low level of functioning of patients was correlated with higher degree of family burden and the more psychological distress of the caregiver. The patient's compliance with medication and psychosocial functioning as well as the participation in a rehabilitation programme, the diagnostic subtypes and the mean daily hours spent with the patient were found to predict the presence of burden of caregiver. It seems that the various socio-therapeutic activities of rehabilitation improve patient's levels of psychosocial functioning, and alleviate the serious psychosocial and emotional problems of caregivers caused by their relative's chronic and severe illness.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Caregivers/psychology , Community Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Cost of Illness , Family/psychology , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Adult , Ambulatory Care/organization & administration , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Family Health , Female , Greece , Health Services Research , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Nursing Methodology Research , Patient Compliance/psychology , Program Evaluation , Social Support , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Treatment Outcome , WorkloadABSTRACT
This study examined the dimensions of burden perceived by key-relatives of patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorder by the development of an instrument, the Family Burden Scale (FBS) and the underlying predictors. One hundred and seventy one primary caregivers, living with 158 patients suffering from chronic psychotic illness and maintained on community basis in Athens area, were interviewed by the use of FBS supplemented by the Family Atmosphere Scale and GHQ. Construction procedure and factor analysis of FBS produced a scale of 23 items in four factors, three of them measuring objective and the fourth one, subjective burden. The scale was also proved to be reliable and valid. Forty-five percent of primary caregivers reported high levels of burden. Psychological impairment (high GHQ scores) was related with high levels of burden and negative family atmosphere. Previous admissions and duration of illness were also found to predict burden. The results suggest that FBS differentiates objective from subjective burden. Psychological well being of carers is affected by the dimensions of perceived burden.