THE PSYCHIATRIC-WARD IN THE PATIENTS VIEW - USER INQUIRY AS PART OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PSYCHIATRY

Prior to discharge 351 patients in a psychiatric ward of a general hos pital were requested to complete a 31-question survey pertaining to th eir hospital stay. The highest marks were given to the nursing staff a nd the individual psychiatric therapy. The survey also reflected dissa tisfaction with the doctors' rounds led by the medical director, the i nformation given about the medications and the early morning exercise programme. Results: The patients were very cooperative and took the qu estions seriously. The questionnaire should not contain more than 10 c lear and simple questions. The very act of posing the questions to the patients brought about changes in the ward.