Comparison of key worker and patient assessment of needs in schizophrenic patients living in the community: a Nordic multicentre study

Objective: The present study is part of a Nordic multicentre study investig ating the life and care situation of community samples of schizophrenic pat ients. The specific aim of the present part of the study was to examine the agreement between patients and their key worker concerning the presence of met and unmet needs in a number of life domains, and help or support given in these domains, Method: The comparisons were based on 300 matched pairs of assessments of n eed using the Camberwell Assessment of Need interview. Results: The results showed that key workers identified slightly more needs , 6.17 vs. 5.76, a significant difference. There was a moderate or better a greement on the presence of a need in 17 of 22 life domains investigated, b ut in only 11 life domains concerning the presence of an unmet need. Disagr eement concerning whether the patient was given the right kind of help or s upport was even more substantial. Conclusion: It is concluded that key workers and patients disagree particul arly concerning unmet needs and that this is potentially related to a numbe r of factors associated with the key worker and patient. It is also conclud ed that further research is needed to increase the knowledge concerning the sources of this disagreement if need assessment is to become a valid basis for service planning and individual treatment planning.