Satisfaction with in-patient psychiatric services. Relationship to patient and treatment factors.
BACKGROUND
There is growing concern about patient satisfaction with psychiatric in-patient provision. This paper measures satisfaction in psychiatric in-patients and its relationships with patient characteristics and ward experiences.


OBJECTIVE
To: (a) measure overall in-patient satisfaction; (b) examine its relationship to in-patient experiences; and (c) examine its relationship to patient factors.


METHODS
Four hundred and thirty-three patients were interviewed. Satisfaction was assessed by a single quest on, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) and by a semistructured interview.


RESULTS
Over three-quarters of the patients were satisfied, but two-thirds reported adverse events. Females, younger patients and those detained were more dissatisfied. No significant relationship was found for ethnic group. Results were similar in the mental hospital and district general hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
There remain problems with satisfaction scales. Qualitative approaches to examine patients' experiences in hospital and the causes of dissatisfaction are recommended.
Greenwood
N
N
Department of Psychiatry, Jenner Wing, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
Key
A
A
Burns
T
T
Bristow
M
M
Sedgwick
P
P
D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000592:standards; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations