Care of patients with chronic mental illness: Comparison of home and half-way house care

Community-based services are being developed as mental health services. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect between home care and half -way house services on patients with schizophrenia. The design was quasi- e xperimental and used repeated measurements. There were 60 subjects, 37 rece iving home care and 23 receiving half-way house care which were affiliated with one general hospital in the south of Taiwan. Of the 60 chronic schizop hrenic patients, there were 34 mates and 26 females with an average age of 34 years. The Quality of Life Scale was applied to measure each patient fou r times, at an interval of two months. These follow-up data were analyzed b y Generalized Estimating Equation-1 (GEE-I) because repeated observations o n an individual may be correlated. The result showed that the total QOL in patients receiving home care programs was significantly higher than those r eceiving half-way house service. The total scores of QOL in patients under half-way house and home care services did not show secular change. The pati ents under home care program showed a somewhat improvement for a short peri od of time. However, as time went on, the patients showed no obvious improv ement in their life qualify. The dimensions of independence and social acti vity in QOL also showed significantly different between these two groups. T he results may provide guides on designing programs and activities for the chronic mental patients. However, the best decision to apply which program for patients need continouous and comprehensive assessment.