title: The use of critical pathways in caring for schizophrenic patients in a mental hospital.
abstract: To provide quality health care and at the same time, to control cost, literature suggests that using critical pathways as a tool can enhance resource management, increase collaborative practice, and benefit patient care. This study describes the processes of developing a critical pathway in caring for schizophrenic patients in a mental hospital in Hong Kong. The perceived benefits and difficulties in using the critical pathway are discussed from a nursing perspective. Nurses believed that the use of critical pathways could improve the coordination and effectiveness of care. Also, nurses' autonomy and professional status improved. However, inadequate knowledge and resistance from other disciplines were barriers to the implementation. Recommendations are given to overcome the barriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000451:nursing*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration