Staff perspectives: What is the function of adult mental health day hospital programs?

Abstract

Introduction Despite the benefits of psychiatric day hospitals (DH), research has not addressed staff perspectives of these programs' effectiveness and barriers. Aim To elucidate staff perceptions of Adult Mental Health DH programs at two hospitals in Canada, allowing for improved programming, enhanced structure and increased understanding of DH settings within the continuum of care. Method Twenty-five DH staff members completed semi-structured qualitative interviews. Two independent coders applied content analysis to achieve data saturation. Results Four major themes emerged: (1) program purpose and function, (2) what is in a name, (3) perceived patient motivation, and (4) room for improvement. Discussion Findings highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary team delivering education and skill-focused interventions. Services were cited as "bridging" different mental health settings. Challenges included barriers to treatment access and inadequate length of treatment. Implications for Practice Understanding the function and purpose of this treatment service may enhance service delivery by enabling programs to integrate identified key ingredients. Providers can also note treatment duration and consider how to best use that time. Finally, language used within a DH setting appears to impact staff delivering services, and may also alter patients' understanding of the services they will receive and purpose of the program.

Acute psychiatric care: approaches to increasing the range of services and improving access and quality of care

“…Acute day units (ADUs) typically of fer programmes combining therapies, activities and social contact to people ex periencing mental health crises who are close to the threshold for admission and attend several times a week for a number of weeks. Traditional names include day hospital or partial hospitalization service, but the more recent use of terms such as ADU or recovery centre reflects a concern that the term "day hospital" may have un duly institutional connotations 111 .…”

Triangulation study of needs assessment of people with severe mental illness in “follow‐up” day hospital settings

“…The final aim of nursing care in DH settings is to enable reintegration into family and social networks (Pessoa Junior et al, 2014 ). Mental health nurses in DH perform individual care programme planning in DH and improve answers to patient’ needs as an alternative to intensive psychiatric care, which bridges the gap between inpatient and outpatient treatment and provides recovery skills (Taube‐Schiff et al, 2017 ).…”

“…These should include understanding of the needs of both patients and their carers (Cialkowska‐Kuzminska et al, 2014 ). Other DH researchers suggest focusing on understanding the perspective of both users and relatives (Taube‐Schiff et al, 2017 ).…”