How should psychiatrists and general physician communicate to increase patients' perception of continuity of care after their hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal?

BACKGROUND: There are medico-psycho-social indications to apprehend the alcohol use disorder (AUD) as a chronic problem for which a continuous care is necessary. The perception of continuity of care is also associated with positive outcomes on the patient's health. Communication between caregivers is essential to maintain a good continual care. In order to put patients back into the center of care, we asked them the question: "why should the psychiatric department (PD) and general physicians (GP) should communicate about AUD patients"? SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After a week of hospitalization for alcoholic withdrawal, we used a qualitative approach with 4 open questions to explore AUD patients' point of view (N=17) about the best way of communication between psychiatrists and GP to improve care continuity. The data collection was carried out in the psychiatric department of the University Hospital of Mont-Godinne, Belgium. RESULTS: AUD patients consider that the GP is the first line actor that will be consulted after hospitalization and have a privileged relationship with him. These arguments justify him being informed. Concerning these patients, communication is useful to have a continuous treatment and project care, for purposes of symptoms' evolution follow-up and so as to help the GP to understand them better to follow the evolution of symptoms and to help the GP to understand them better. CONCLUSION: From AUD patients' point of view, communication between psychiatric department and the GP is useful for a perspective of continuity of care at discharge from the hospital. This communication seems to be at the service of the GP and his patient rather than for the psychiatrist himself. Mainly because of the GP's role as a privileged first-line care, but also thanks to the specific relationship relating him to his patient.