Services provided to relatives of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital : an assessment of family satisfaction
This study explores family satisfaction with services provided to them on their relatives' admission to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. The rationale for doing this research arose from the researcher's encounters with families of psychiatric patients and the perceived lack of involvement of the professionals with the families. In addition, a needs assessment was done to establish the need for family groups. The literature review traced the psychiatric services from the earlier custodial orientation, the subsequent deinstitutionalisation of the services resulting in the families becoming the primary caregivers of their mentally ill relatives, to the emphasis of the biopsychosocial model in the recently established community services. Review of the treatment models indicated supportive family education as the primary form of intervention to ensure compliance, aid the recuperation process, enhance the quality of life for the patient and their families and to equip the families to cope with the illness. A survey method was employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data via questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 31 relatives of 24 patients who had been admitted during January, February, and in March 1995 to the male and female admission units (wards 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16) at Valkenberg psychiatric hospital in Cape Town. A non-probability convenience sampling procedure, based on the availability and accessibility of the relatives to attend an office interview, was used. Findings from prior studies as well as from this current study have shown a lack of professional involvement with the families in relation to the treatment programme of their mentally ill relatives. The majority of the respondents were not informed about the implications of the illness and the effect of treatment and most of the respondents lacked guidance on how to cope with their mentally ill relatives. Other findings indicated that families are the most concerned about the lack of supported housing, rehabilitation services, adequate financial assistance, day care centres, sheltered employment for their mentally ill relatives and difficulties in relation to admission procedures. More than three quarters of the respondents were interested in family groups and there was a definite need for professional counselling for the parents and siblings. In response to the findings a number of recommendations are made to improve services to families, including the formation of family groups where the relatives of mentally ill people can receive psychoeducation and practical guidance. The need for further research has been identified.
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