Evaluation of the approaches by doctors and nurses in psychiatry department towards patient discharge

Patients should be prepared for post-discharge period through an organized discharge planning process as of the date of admission to hospital so they could systematically be supported in medication process and the therapeutical environment maintains out of the hospital as well. It?s important that doctors and nurses take effective part in this process.This research was aimed to determine the approaches by doctors and nurses in psychiatry department toward patient discharge. 45 nurses and 118 doctors who work in psychiatry departments of public hospitals within Ankara provincial borders participated in this study. Survey data were collected through a questionary form by the investigator after reviewing related literature and also were presented for consideration by the expert consultation. Frequency and percentage values, Fisher?s Exact Test and Pearson?s Chi-Square Test were used to evaluate the data.It was determined that %87.9 of doctors and %77.8 of nurses who work in psychiatry departments participate in discharge planning process. %44.1 of doctors and %33.3 of nurses stated that the process should start as of the day patient is hospitalized. A very minor group in doctors and nurses stated that all the medical team should participate in discharge planning process. As to benefits gained from discharge planning process, a vast majority of doctors and nurses (%84.7 of doctors and %80 of nurses) declared that it would improve the quality of patient care. It was observed that %6.8 of doctors and %17.7 of nurses stated that performing a discharge planning process would have negative aspects, and almost half of these people declared the negative aspects would increase workload.Suggestions were given in line with the results obtained from the study.Key Words: Psychiatry, maintenance of care in psychiatry, patient discharge planning and discharge education in psychiatry, roles of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses.