Event recording in psychiatric care: development of an instrument and 1-year results

Nord J Psychiatry. 2001;55(1):25-31. doi: 10.1080/080394801750093689.

Abstract

Methods for regular monitoring of care and services are needed for psychiatrists to act on, to refine practice. We developed a computer-based instrument to be used by staff working with schizophrenic patients. The instrument was tested in a group of patients randomly assigned to an integrated-care program. Data on time, place, direct/indirect contacts, and the main elements of the content of care were regularly recorded on a pocket computer and later transferred to a desktop computer for analysis. One-year data on 24 subjects are presented on three levels: individual, case load, and total patient population. Of the encounters 66% were individual patient contacts. Staff spent 59% of the time at patients' homes. A computer-aided system with built-in information on care delivery, program fidelity, and outcome can be the basis of decision-making on different health-management levels.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Evaluation Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Episode of Care*
  • Female
  • Home Care Services
  • Hospital Records*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized*
  • Microcomputers
  • Middle Aged
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / therapy*
  • Software
  • Sweden
  • Time and Motion Studies