Staff and patient feedback in mental health services for older people.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the views of patients and staff on the quality of care provided on a psychogeriatric assessment ward over a five year period. To describe the quality improvements which were made as a result of their respective comments.


METHODS
Structured interviews were conducted with both patients and staff to obtain qualitative feedback and suggestions for improvement. An analysis of the percentage of positive and negative comments made by both patients and staff was used to compare the levels of satisfaction on a variety of aspects of the service provided.


METHODS
Psychogeriatric inpatient assessment ward.


METHODS
75 patients and 85 staff interviews were conducted.


METHODS
Structured interviews covering various aspects of service quality.


RESULTS
Staff and patients picked up on different aspects of service quality as important. Quality improvements which arose from the interviews were clearly different. Generally patients were more positive about the physical environment and standards of professional care than staff, but less positive about issues of privacy, social interaction, and empowerment.


CONCLUSIONS
The perspectives of patients and staff in this area are not interchangeable. Both series of interviews led to several positive changes in the quality of care. Interviews with staff seem to have been valuable in a low morale situation. A structured interview format provided patients with an opportunity to feedback openly and led to changes in service quality which would not otherwise have occurred.
Brooker
D J
DJ
Herefordshire Community Health (NHS) Trust, Stonebow Unit, County Hospital, England.
Dinshaw
C J
CJ
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005246:Feedback; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011209:Power, Psychological; D018907:Privacy; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D006113:United Kingdom