Is there a relationship between the structure of Irish psychiatric multidisciplinary teams and patient outcome?
This study evaluated the structure of psychiatric multidisciplinary teams within eight Irish Health Boards over a two year period (1997 and 1998). Furthermore, it assessed the relationship between team structure and three measures of psychiatric outcome within individual Health Board areas. The findings suggest a significant variation between Health Boards in relation to the staffing of psychiatric multidisciplinary teams. Although there was no evidence that the structure of multidisciplinary teams influenced suicide rates or duration of hospitalization, it had a significant independent effect on admission rates to psychiatric units.
Browne
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Waterford Regional Hospital, Dunmore Road, Waterford.
Magar
B
B
Sheppard
N
N
D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling