ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of patients leaving against medical advice [LAMA] in an inpatient psychiatric facility in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Institute of Psychiatry, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, from August 2010 to February 2011. Patients who got admitted during study period irrespective of duration of illness and mode of admission were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling and followed till discharge to determine their mode of leaving hospital. A thirteen-item proforma was developed and information was obtained on demographic, socioeconomic, patient related and disease related variables. Descriptive statistics were calculated on SPSS 14. The total number [n] of participants was 246. Among the participants, 96 [39%] left against medical advice [LAMA] whereas 150 [61%] left on regular discharge on physician's advice. Frequency of patients who left against medical advice was found to be more in males [63.5%], younger age groups [21 - 30 years], lesser educated [more than half were under matric] and with the ICD-10 diagnosis of substance abuse [23.9%]. About half of patients who LAMA had a prior history of psychiatric illness and a significant number [37.5%] had a history of previous psychiatric admission. Leaving against medical advice is a frequent problem in psychiatric inpatients and is a matter of great concern for the treating doctors
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of satisfied patients with ECTs in a public sector tertiary care hospital. Cross-sectional, descriptive study. The study was carried out in the in-patient department of Institute of Psychiatry, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, a tertiary care public sector hospital, from October 2010 to June 2011. A consecutive sample of 163 inpatients of both genders, excluding acutely disturbed patients was recruited. Proforma regarding the socio-demographic details was filled by the participants. ECT satisfaction Questionnaire was orally administered in Urdu to each participant for the assessment of their satisfaction with ECT. Data was analyzed using SPSS 10.0. Using the ECT satisfaction Questionnaire, 62.6% patients were satisfied while 37.4% were dissatisfied with ECT. Majority of patient was satisfied with Electroconvulsive therapy. However there is a need to explore specific reasons for satisfaction/dissatisfaction with this treatment modality in order to improve the delivery of this treatment in accordance with the patients' expectations for better treatment adherence and improved outcomes
ABSTRACT
To find out the frequency of compliance of patients using anti-depressants prescribed at out-patient department. Descriptive cross sectional study. This study was conducted in the out-patient department of Institute of Psychiatry, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi from September 10,2010 till May 10,2011. One hundred and sixteen patients aged 18 years and above, presenting with moderate depressive illness, able to understand and speak Urdu, taking treatment for at least 4 weeks and belonging to both genders were recruited from out-patient department using consecutive [non-probability] sampling technique. Patients having severe depressive illness with psychotic features and severe agitation were excluded. Antidepressant Compliance Questionnaire was translated and validated through a pilot study and then the Urdu translation was orally administered to each participant for the assessment of compliance with antidepressant medication. Among the participants 74.1% were compliant and 25.9% were non-compliant with anti-depressant medications. This study found a high degree of patient compliance with anti-depressants. The results would help in early recognition of non-compliant patients, so that necessary changes could be made in the treatment plan to ensure better compliance