Use of a psychiatric proforma for accident and emergency officers.
OBJECTIVE
To devise a proforma for clinical documentation of psychiatric illness in an accident and emergency (A&E) department, since A&E senior house officers (SHOs) have little psychiatric experience before starting their jobs.


METHODS
History taking and mental state examinations by 16 SHOs were compared before (n = 50) and after (n = 50) the introduction of the proforma. Comments on the proforma were provided by all participants on a questionnaire.


RESULTS
There was an improvement in documentation with the use of the proforma (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.001). The senior house officers found the proforma useful and supported further development of this initiative.


CONCLUSIONS
A standard form for documenting psychiatric history, designed according to local needs, is useful and should be available in A&E departments.
Schnieden
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Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia.
Good
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D002983:Clinical Competence; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires