title: [A project to raise the participation rate in education groups by psychiatric patient family members].
abstract: The objective of this project was to increase the rate of participation in relevant educational programs of immediate relatives of individuals currently undergoing psychiatric treatment. According to statistics, the average participation rate in such educational programs averages only 23.4%; a ratio considered unacceptably low. After analysis, major problems identified included: (1) relatives were not informed in advance of meeting schedules; (2) there was no standard manner by which hospitals communicated with relatives; (3) interaction between patients and their families was, in general, poor; (4) program staff were unable to ensure that relatives knew correct meeting times; and (5) relatives generally lacked interest in health education topics. A special project group was organized and charged to improve the rate of participation of psychiatric patient relatives in health education groups. Three proposals made by this group included: (1) create an annual patient relative attendance planning schedule; (2) implement a patient "life passport" for use as a standardized tool in day hospital care; and (3) arrange time after education activities for patient-parent interaction. After measures were implemented, patient relative participation in education programs rose to 64.8% from 23.4%. Results demonstrate method feasibility and validity. As the proposed method does not require nurses to send out notifications or conduct follow-ups over the phone, it indirectly cuts down costs and manpower and improves patient-family relations, ultimately raising the quality of nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Chia-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shu-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic