Paper Example on Compulsory Admission of Psychiatric Patients: Systematic Sampling Study

Introduction

The study population was psychiatric patients who had been put on compulsory admission at two mental health institutions, Bavo Europoort and Yulius, over a reference period. The participants of this study were selected through systemic sampling. A list of consecutive admissions obtained from the databases of the institutions was used to track the last 22 cases, starting with the latest (De Jong et al., 2017). Although the approach used to select participants did not seek the patient's consent, it helped to avoid selection bias.

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Accuracy and Completeness of Data

The data collected included all information in the patient’s record that the researchers considered to have contributed to compulsory admission, starting six months before the date of admission (De Jong et al., 2017). They included patient's behavior, activities of the professional caregivers, as well as all the occasions and events that seemed relevant. While the data obtained was accurate, it was not complete because it only represented the perspective of the healthcare professionals, which could have been subjective. The patient records left out the perspective of the patients and the family members caring for them.

Findings Fit Data

The researchers restricted the findings of the study to describe the pattern of events that occurred before compulsory admission. And since the patient records analyzed covered patient’s behavior, healthcare professional’s activities, and other relevant occasions and events, the findings arguably fit the data collected.

Results of Study and their Importance

a. Clear Identification of Phenomenon

The study identified the phenomenon, observing that patients showing deviant behaviors such as avoidance of contact with healthcare professionals, cessation of medication out of the loss of insight, being physically or verbally aggressive, and becoming psychotic predict likelihood of being compulsorily admitted.

b. Methodology Fits Purpose

The purpose of the study was to identify the factors (patterns of behavior and events) that precede the decision to compulsorily admit a patient, and using retrospective multiple case studies was the best way to achieve it. Retrospective analysis of each psychiatric patient’s records helped to highlight patient information that could not be obtained through conventional data collection methods like observation or interviews at the time of the study. Besides, starting the analysis six months before the date of admission was a key consideration in achieving this purpose.

Results Logical, Consistent, Easy to Follow

Moreover, the results of the study are not only logical but also consistent and easy to follow. The study analyzed data using the Prevention and Recovery System for the Monitoring and Analysis (PRISMA) method that assessed four categories of factors that precede compulsory admission (De Jong et al., 2017). The categories were: acts and events, patients’ conditions, failing protective barriers, and protective factors used to reduce the risk of compulsory admission. Similarly, results were reported according to the four categories.

Quotes Illustrate Findings

The research does not use any quotes to illustrate the findings because of the methodology used and the nature of the data collected. There were no participant statements.

Described Meanings Derived From Data

Nonetheless, the results of the study described meanings derived from data. The researcher offered a detailed explanation of each of the four PRISMA categories for which data was collected. The results also included a conceptual framework diagram illustrating the four categories of data collected and the specific factors under each of them. The also included anonymized case studies to further describe the meanings of the data.

Results Plausible/Believable

The results are plausible because they are consistent and have a logical connection to the data and the purpose of the study.

Conclusions Consistent with Findings

The study had two key conclusions, which are both consistent with the findings. First, based on the findings on the four PRISMA categories of mandatory admission factors, it concludes that the healthcare procedure informing compulsory admission is complex. Secondly, based on the same findings, the research concludes that healthcare professionals are at the same time, not sufficiently assertive in their management of early relapse or care avoidance signs.

Results Helpful in Patient Care

Results Applicable to My Patients

The results of the study are applicable to my patients because every kind of patient has some risk factors that may necessitate compulsory admission. General nursing patients share some of the deviant behaviors, acts, and events observed in psychiatric patients such as avoidance of healthcare professionals, refusal, or cessation of medication. Moreover, compulsory admission has been associated with improving the patient's motivation for treatment and psychosocial functioning, which means that it can be beneficial for my deviant patients with conditions that endanger their lives.

Results Useful in My Practice

Similarly, these results are useful in my nursing practice because it explored two factors related to healthcare professionals. For example, it found that professionals in the Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams sometimes failed to take appropriate assertive action against signs of care avoidance and relapse. Based on this fact, a healthcare professional in any area of practice should note the importance of being assertive with their patients. Besides, that is what the letter ‘A’ stands for in the abbreviation ‘FACT’ (De Jong et al., 2017).

Patients/Family’s Values Considered in Result Application

The application of the results considered a few patient/family values, which include shared decision-making, patient’s freedom, and the right to receive recovery-focused healthcare. Assertive response from a healthcare giver will help contain deteriorations characterized by actions, events, and patient conditions that increase the risk of compulsory admission.

References

De Jong, M. H., Oorschot, M., Kamperman, A. M., Brussaard, P. E., Knijff, E. M., Van de Sande, R., Van Gool, A. R., & Mulder, C. L. (2017). Crucial factors preceding compulsory psychiatric admission: A qualitative patient-record study. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1512-y