Opinions of patients’ relatives and health professionals regarding patient accompaniment in the department of psychiatry

Abstract

Objectives: This descriptive study was conducted to determine the views of the patients' relatives and health professionals on the implementation of patient accompaniment in the psychiatry clinic. Methods: The study was performed in the psychiatry clinic of a university hospital in Izmir. The sample consisted of 41 patient companions and 19 health personnel. The research data was collected through a questionnaire developed by using the relevant literature and expert opinions, and for the analysis of the data, number and percentage distribution was used. Results: The most of the companions, (54%) were female and 56% were parents. The most of the health professionals were physician (63.2%) and all of them considered patient accompaniment as a necessary practice. The patients' relatives expressed negative opinions that there was not enough space to rest in the clinic (27%), and that they were not able to sleep comfortably (36.6%). While all of the employees reported that patients' having a companion reduces the burden of the team in the care of at-risk patients, half of them (52.6%) stated that the practice adversely affected patients' functionality and routine applications performed by the employees. Health professionals indicated that the difficulties suffered by the companions were the lack of space to sleep or rest in the clinic environment (68.4%) and that the companions had trouble in coping with the disease and disease process and in approaching the patient (52.6%). Conclusion: Both the patient's relatives and medical staff working in the psychiatry clinic considered that accompaniment was necessary especially for patients who needed care and who were at risk to harm themselves and/or others. It is recommended that the responsibilities undertaken and the problems suffered by the companions should be taken into account and the necessary arrangements regarding their rest and sleep requirements should be made.