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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Quality assessment of a consultation-liaison psychiatry service

Authors: Zoltan Kovacs, Marton Asztalos, Simon Grøntved, René Ernst Nielsen

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) provides services for patients with medical-psychiatric comorbidity at the general hospital. Referral satisfaction is considered as one of the most important outcome measures of CLP interventions. Our aim was to assess the levels of satisfaction with the CLP service amongst medical staff at a university hospital in Denmark.

Methods

Medical staff answered an online survey regarding their experience with different aspects of inpatient and outpatient CLP services.

Results

There were 152 responses from 16 medical units, with a survey return rate above 85%. Measured on a 5-point Likert scale, there was a median rating of 4 in response to questions regarding communication and organizational aspects, a median rating of 5 in response to questions regarding overall evaluation of the CLP service on both inpatient and outpatient questionnaire. The questions regarding treatment quality were rated with a median of 4 on the inpatient questionnaire and 2 of the outpatient questionnaire items, and with a median of 5 on 2 outpatient items. Physicians´ evaluations were statistically more positive than nurses´. As a group, respondents already employed before the CLP unit was established and those who used the CLP services more were statistically significantly more satisfied then respondents employed after the establishment of the CLP unit and those who used the CLP service less.

Conclusion

The CLP services were positively appreciated and considered to be valuable among medical hospital staff. We believe that Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry deserves further help to implement and expand its services in general hospital settings. In addition, our results underline the feasibility of surveys as quality measures of clinical care.
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Metadata
Title
Quality assessment of a consultation-liaison psychiatry service
Authors
Zoltan Kovacs
Marton Asztalos
Simon Grøntved
René Ernst Nielsen
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03281-4

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