ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of the Psychiatric Home Care program versus the traditional, hospital-centered program needs to be evaluated for proper reform of mental health policy concerning schizophrenia. The objective of the study was to compare the length of hospital stay and risk of hospital re-admission in home-based versus the hospital based services for schizophrenic patients at the Psychiatric Home Care [PHC] of the Psychiatric Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study involved comparing 15 schizophrenic patients in a home-based care program for 1 year to the number and length of hospitalization they experienced in the year prior to being admitted to home based care. It also included a control group of 15 schizophrenic patients under hospital-based care. Both groups were followed up for 1 year. Results indicated that the number of hospital admissions significantly decreased in the case of patients receiving PHC. Psychiatric Home Care is superior to hospital based treatment in the management of schizophrenia
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Home Nursing , Length of Stay , Patient Readmission , Case-Control StudiesABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study aims to assess the nature and severity of depressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients, compared to psychotic depressed patients. The study sample consisted of 40 cancer patients recruited from outpatient clinics of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Ain Shams University hospital. The control group included 40 consecutive patients with diagnosis of depression taken from outpatient clinic of the Institute of Psychiatry of Ain Shams University. The ressearchers applied interview sheet for patients, Beck depression rating scale and quality of life depression rating scale. The results revealed statistically significantly higher prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in the study group, compared to control, p=0.003. The two groups were also different as regards nature of depression. The quality of life domains were also statistically significantly different between them. However, no statistically significant difference could be revealed in overall quality of life score. It was recommend to develop protocols and individualized interventions that respond to psychological and physical needs of cancer patients to promote their quality of life. Nurses must increase Their efforts to identify those who are most psychologically vulnerable and those who perceive that obstacles exist to seek emotional help through counseling and psychological services