title: Implementation of an Evidence Based Guideline for Assessment and Documentation of the Civil Commitment Process.
abstract: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence-based practice guideline for assessment and documentation of the civil commitment process. Participants included six civil commitment examiners who conduct court ordered psychiatric evaluations at two crisis intervention centers in rural area of southeaster state. Data collection was conducted utilizing a chart audit tool both pre and post intervention of 100 civil commitment evaluations. The intervention included the development of an evidenced based form for documentation of civil commitment evaluations and a one on one educational training session was conducted for each participant. Descriptive statistics (t test) was utilized to analyze the data collected. The project demonstrated a significant increase as 25.5 % of evaluations contained the America Psychiatric Association's recommended 11 domains of assessment prior to implementation compared to 65.6 % (p value = 0.018) post implementation. Moreover, participants with family practice training showed an increase in commitment rates from 60 to 77.3 % (p value = 0.066). Whereas, psychiatric trained participants showed a decrease from 83.75 to 77.66 % (p value = 0.38). Demonstrating that court ordered evaluations guided by a standardized form based on evidence affected examiners recommendations for commitments.
authors.affiliation: Region IV Community Mental Health Center, 80 CR 8050, Rienzi, Rienzi, MS, 38865, USA. tperrigoapmhnp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tabitha L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Perrigo
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, 5721 USA Drive N. RM 3059, Mobile, AL, 36688-002, USA. kwilliams@southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D058996:Quality Improvement
keywords: Civil commitment; Commitment; Court commitment; Psychiatric evaluations