Conceptions of patients and personnel concerning the substance of post‐ward outpatient visits in psychiatric care

Abstract

In post-ward outpatient services patients discharged from hospital are provided further care by the same ward personnel. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the conceptions concerning the substance of post-ward outpatient visits (PWOV). A phenomenographic approach was used. The data were gathered by interviewing post-ward outpatients, personnel at psychiatric wards and in outpatient care and administrative personnel in psychiatric units. Seven main categories of describing the PWOV were formed: natural interaction, continuous assessment, follow-up of the implementation of pharmacotherapy, relapse prevention, search for coping methods, establishing motivation for treatment and family members' participation in care. The patient's health, life situation and coping in everyday life were constantly evaluated and followed up in diverse ways during the PWOV. To make PWOV successful, treatment should be planned individually based on the patient's needs, and the patient should have a close and functional cooperative relationship with the nurse.