Centre for Ageing and Mental Health, Faculty of Health and Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stafford ST18 0AD, UK.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2013 Jun;25(6):1023-32. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213000331. Epub 2013 Apr 2.
The provision of mental health care for older people will become increasingly important with rising demand related to global demographic changes. This project aimed to identify changes in work patterns of UK consultant old age psychiatrists between 1993 and 2012.
A link to an online questionnaire was circulated to consultant old age psychiatrists through the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists.
In all 210 usable responses were received. On the survey day 71% of old age psychiatrists arrived at work before 9 am, and 40% left work after 6 pm. Over one-third (35%) worked for another hour or more at home. The range of activities was broader than previously reported. Administrative activity was undertaken by over 60% and acute ward work by only 26%. Few consultants reported time in long-stay care or day hospitals. Outpatient activity included Memory Clinics and Health Center Clinics. The main stressors reported by consultants were lack of resources and pressures from management-imposed, financially driven service changes. Relationships with people at work (including patients and their families) and outside work were the main identified support.
Consultants' working hours have changed little since 1997, but the range and emphases of activities have changed. Changes in service organization are stressful and consultants are supported by relationships with colleagues and patients. Work patterns are changing in response to demands and constraints on the specialty. Research is needed into service design and work patterns, which can provide humane care in the current economic climate.
随着与全球人口结构变化相关的需求增加，为老年人提供精神保健将变得越来越重要。本项目旨在确定英国老年精神病学顾问的工作模式在 1993 年至 2012 年间的变化。
通过皇家精神病学院老年精神病学部向老年精神病学顾问发送了一个在线问卷链接。
共收到 210 份可用回复。在调查日，71%的老年精神病学家在上午 9 点前到达工作岗位，40%的人在下午 6 点后离开工作岗位。超过三分之一（35%）在家工作一小时或更长时间。活动范围比以前报告的更广泛。超过 60%的人从事行政活动，只有 26%的人从事急性病房工作。很少有顾问报告在长期护理或日间医院的时间。门诊活动包括记忆诊所和健康中心诊所。顾问报告的主要压力源是资源匮乏和管理层强制实施的、受财务驱动的服务变更带来的压力。与工作中的人（包括患者及其家属）和工作之外的人之间的关系是主要的支持来源。
自 1997 年以来，顾问的工作时间变化不大，但活动的范围和重点发生了变化。服务组织的变化令人感到压力，顾问们与同事和患者的关系得到了支持。工作模式正在发生变化，以应对专业领域的需求和限制。需要对服务设计和工作模式进行研究，以便在当前的经济环境下提供人性化的护理。
