An evaluation of two systems of in-patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit. II: Measures of staff and patient performance.

This study reports on a comparison between a single ward and a two-ward system of acute in-patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit. It looked at job satisfaction, levels of stress, absenteeism/sickness and work proficiency amongst the staff and also at patients' level of disturbed behaviour, length of stay and re-admission rates. It was found that a continuous-care ward was associated with a lower level of behavioural disturbance and was preferred by the majority of staff, with some increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in stress. The continuous-care ward was also associated with shorter admissions. However, those who progressed through a two-ward system were less likely to be re-admitted within 3 months. The implications of these results are discussed.