[The psychiatric department evaluated by patients. A user survey as part of quality assurance in psychiatry].

UNLABELLED

Prior to discharge 351 patients in a psychiatric ward of a general hospital were requested to complete a 31-question survey pertaining to their hospital stay. The highest marks were given to the nursing staff and the individual psychiatric therapy. The survey also reflected dissatisfaction with the doctors' rounds led by the medical director, the information given about the medications and the early morning exercise programme.

RESULTS

The patients were very cooperative and took the questions seriously. The questionnaire should not contain more than 10 clear and simple questions. The very act of posing the questions to the patients brought about changes in the ward.