An evaluation of two systems of in-patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit II: measures of staff and patient performance

This study reports on a comparison between a single ward and a two‐ward system of acute in‐patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit It looked at job satisfaction, levels of stress, absenteeism/sickness and work proficiency amongst the staff and also at patients’ level of disturbed behaviour, length of stay and re‐admission rates It was found that a continuous‐care ward was associated with a lower level of behavioural disturbance and was preferred by the majority of staff, with some increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in stress The continuous‐care ward was also associated with shorter admissions However, those who progressed through a two‐ward system were less likely to be re‐admitted within 3 months The implications of these results are discussed