Bakgrund: I Sverige tvångsvårdas 3000 personer varje dag utifrån Lagen om psykiatrisk tvångsvård eller Lagen om rättspsykiatrisk vård. Tvångsvård får endast ges om personen lider av en allvarlig psykisk störning, eller på grund av sitt psykiska tillstånd har ett nödvändigt behov av psykiatrisk vård, som inte kan tillgodoses på annat sätt än att personen är intagen på en psykiatrisk vårdavdelning. Viktiga principer att praktisera vid tvångsvård är autonomiprincipen, människovärdesprincipen, legalitetsprincipen och integritetsprincipen.Syftet: Syftet i denna litteraturstudie var att belysa patientens upplevelse av psykiatrisk tvångsvård inom slutenvård.Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie med 14 kvalitativa artiklar som inkluderats efter sökning i databaserna Cinahl, PubMed och PsycINFO.Resultat: Åtta olika kategorier framkom, Att medicineras under tvång, Att bli frihetsberövad, Att få adekvat stöd från personal och familj, Att få adekvat och kompetent vård, Att inte få tillräckligt med information, Att inte bli bemött som en värdig människa, Att inte få behålla sin autonomi, Att inte få behålla sin identitet.Diskussion: Resultatdiskussionen är baserad på tre huvudfynd, Delaktighet, Information, Människovärde. Dessa fynd har diskuterats med hjälp av viktiga principer att praktisera vid tvångsvård, samt med hjälp av annan forskning inom psykiatrin. / Background: In Sweden 3000 people are involuntarily treated every day based on compulsory Mental Care Act or Law of forensic psychiatric care. Compulsory treatment should only be given if the person suffers from a serious mental illness, or because of his mental state has an essential need of psychiatric care that can not be met otherwise than that the person is admitted to a psychiatric ward. Important principles to practice at the compulsory care are the autonomy principle, principle of human dignity, legality and integrity principle.Aim: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the patient´s experience of compulsory psychiatric treatment in inpatient care.Method: A systematic literature review of 14 qualitative articles was included by searching the databases Cinahl, PubMed and PsycINFO.Results: Eight different categories emerged, To be medicated under coercion, To be deprived of liberty, To get adequate support from staff and family, To get adequate and competent care, Not getting enough information, To not be treated as a worthy human, To not retain autonomy, To not retain identity.Discussion: Results discussion is based on three main findings, Participation, Information, Human dignity. These findings have been discussed with the help of important principles to practice during compulsory treatment, and with the help of other research in psychiatry.

Bakgrund: Hot och våld riktat mot vårdpersonal är idag ett växande problem över hela världen. Vårdpersonal tillhör en av de yrkeskategorier där det föreligger en ökad risk att bli utsatt för hot och våld från patienter. Vårdpersonal är de som står för omvårdnaden av patienterna och forskning visar att om personalen blir utsatta för hot och våld kan det uppstå konsekvenser för både vårdpersonal och patienter. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att belysa upplevelsen av hot och våld hos vårdpersonal inom hälso- och sjukvården. Metod: I litteraturstudien har 8 vetenskapliga, kvalitativa artiklar sammanställts och analyserats med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Artikelsökning har skett i databaserna Cinahl, PsycINFO, PubMed och Scopus. Resultat: Resultatet visar att upplevelsen av att utsättas för hot och våld leder till en mängd starka känslor hos den som blivit utsatt. Känslorna är för det mesta av negativ karaktär och kan handla om känslan av att uppleva sig vara hotad och rädd, att känna både subjektiv ilska samt ilska riktad mot patienterna, känna maktlöshet och att känna hopplöshet och nedstämdhet. Hot och våld leder till konsekvenser för personalen. Det omfattar bland annat att motivationen sänks, personalen “tar med sig jobbet hem” och privatlivet drabbas. Det uttrycktes en stark önskan av stöd, kunskap och utbildning. Slutsats: Litteraturstudiens resultat visar att upplevelsen av att bli utsatt för hot och våld leder till många svåra konsekvenser för de som blir drabbade. För att förbättra hanteringen av konsekvenserna krävs utbildning och stöd till vårdpersonalen samt vidare forskning inom området både för att förebygga och hjälpa personal som blivit utsatt. / Background: Threats and violence against healthcare workers is today a growing problem worldwide. Healthcare personnel are at an increased risk of being subjected to threats and violence by their patients. Health workers are caregivers and advocates for their patients and if they become subject to threats or violence, previous research has shown that the consequences can be many both for caregivers and patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate the experiences of threat and violence by patients on healthcare personnel. Method: This literature review study included 8 scientific, qualitative articles compiled and analyzed with a description of qualitative content analysis with inductive approach. Article search was performed in the databases Cinahl, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus. Results: The results show that the experience of being subjected to threats and violence leads to a lot of strong feelings for the victimized health care worker. Feelings are, for the most part, of negative character and include feeling of threatened and afraid, feeling both anger in general and anger directed toward patients, feeling powerless and feeling hopelessness and depression. Threats and violence also lead to other negative consequences for the staff. These include, among other things, that motivation is lowered, and that workers find themselves “taking their work home with them”, which affects their private lives, often in detrimental ways. Affected workers also expressed a strong desire for support for victims, and knowledge and training for coping skills and tactics for dealing with difficult patients. Conclusion: The results of the literature review study shows that the experience of being subjected to threats and violence leads to many serious consequences for those who are affected. In order to improve the management of the consequences, education and support for healthcare personnel and further research in the area, to be able to prevent further incidents and help the healthcare workers who have been subjected, are required.

This thesis aims to make contributions at substantive, methodological and theoretical levels. First, the findings from three observational studies are combined to identify obstacles to the use of shared decision-making in modern psychiatric practice. Particular attention is paid to how patients' choices about their treatment are facilitated or constrained by the actions of mental health professionals. A typology of pressure is constructed, based on detailed analyses of how pressure is applied and resisted in routine encounters (outpatient consultations) and "crisis' situations (assessments for compulsory admission to hospital, and ward rounds in acute inpatient care). Findings from two ethnographies and one conversation analysis (CA) study are presented. 'Meaning' is central to the write-up of each set of findings, however while the analytic focus of the ethnographies is 'insider' knowledge and meanings, in the CA study it is gn the activities that make those meanings possible in the first place. The methodological contribution of the thesis stems from its demonstration of how to produce a coherent, unified research account from two very different versions of qualitative inquiry. Despite the potential for analytic inconsistency, the thesis arguably has far greater force and persuasiveness as a result of the attempt to combine, compare and contrast findings from three studies. It is contended that a sound theoretical base for sociological research may be created by combining Goffman's micro-sociology with Foucault's analyses of disciplinary power/knowledge in one of a number of ways. A Goffmanian 'home base' is adopted for this thesis, with Foucauldian thinking applied to add a historical, 'macro' dimension to the analysis that Goffman's work so conspicuously lacks. Foucault's work also provides the conceptual tools for examining the more subtle form of control through expertise that would be missed in a purely Goffmanian study.

This thesis uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model (World Health Organisation, 2001) to explore the multidimensional presentation of strengths and problems in young people with cystic fibrosis (CF), firstly examining its theoretical “fit” to the health condition, and secondly using it to characterise the performance of those with CF. Few studies in the literature demonstrate such an holistic approach to the physiotherapy assessment and management of this population. It was expected that this description of performance would provide a framework for identifying key areas for physiotherapy exercise intervention. This then formed the basis for further studies to examine the effect of a targeted exercise program (compared to current exercise practice) on inpatient outcomes, as well as on outcomes of outpatient management. The position paper included provides theoretical support for the ICF model as an appropriate tool in the management of young people with CF. Building on this, Study 1 explored the practical utility of the ICF model for describing the presentation of young inpatients and outpatients with CF. Eighty-four participants with CF were recruited as a consecutive series who satisfied selection criteria to provide a cross-sectional view at younger (7-12 years, n=51) and older (13-17 years, n=33) ages. Musculoskeletal, respiratory and physiological measures represented the body structures and functions domain, the six-minute walk test and jump tests were included in the activities domain, and participation was described by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire–Revised Version and Fels Physical Activity Questionnaire. Contextual factors were also considered (age, gender, inpatient/outpatient status). In this exploratory study, performance of this population was compared to normative data where available. Also, correlations between measures within and between ICF domains were examined as suggested by the model itself. Finally, effects of contextual factors on performance were investigated using univariate analysis of variance. This first study and the position paper support the ICF model as an effective tool for describing performance of young people with CF, and for investigating functional relationships within and between domains. Results showed significant differences in this population compared to normative data, and interrelationships were identified within and between ICF domains. Between inpatients and outpatients in the specified age groups, there was a statistically significant difference in means for a number of measures, whereby inpatients displayed consistently poorer mean scores than outpatients, with this effect significantly stronger in the older age group. The application of the ICF model was useful for highlighting areas to target in physiotherapy exercise intervention, and for substantiating selected measures to assess the program’s effectiveness across domains. Study 2 was a randomised controlled trial with blinded assessor, which investigated the effectiveness of a 10-14 day inpatient-based exercise program (the Cystic Fibrosis: Fitness Challenge) (CF:FC) tailored for young people with CF (7-17 years). The CF:FC program (n=15) included exercise strategies based on recommendations from previous work in the field, and from findings from Study 1. This program included a portable exercise package (FitKitTM) designed to be adaptable to limited space environments such as at the hospital bedside, important when inpatients with CF are isolated according to infection control procedures. Participants in the control program (n=16) received the current exercise practice provided for young people with CF at a tertiary hospital, which included mainly aerobic-type activities to affect airway clearance. Performance on study measures (scoped within the framework of the ICF model, presented in Study 1) were compared pre- and post-intervention (admission and completion of the inpatient exercise program) between the groups. This trial showed significant improvements for participants in both groups from admission to discharge for a range of measures, including respiratory function, muscle strength and quality of life measures. Participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements for some measures, for example: ankle dorsiflexor strength, six-minute walk distance and perception of their respiratory status. The continuation of the intervention and control programs into the outpatient setting was the focus of Study 3. The FitKitTM was provided for the intervention group, incorporating strategies to enhance adherence including a physical activity log (PAL) and internet-based follow-up. The control home exercise program consisted of the current practice provided on discharge. Interestingly, the control group improved significantly in hip abductor strength and six-minute walk distance during the outpatient period, whereas the intervention group sustained the improvements gained in the inpatient period but generally showed no further significant improvement. When the change from inpatient admission to outpatient follow-up was considered, it was apparent that greater improvements during the inpatient period provided a ‘buffer’ to accommodate for possible deteriorations in function in the outpatient phase. Issues regarding adherence to exercise programs during the outpatient period are discussed. This thesis confirms the usefulness of the ICF model for describing young people with CF, guiding assessment and review processes to achieve comprehensive management, and strengthening the evidence-base for targeted physiotherapy exercise intervention. A novel, tailored exercise program is introduced which is effective during inpatient periods, and provides a maintenance effect during outpatient periods, but strategies to enhance adherence during outpatient periods require further investigation.

This thesis uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model (World Health Organisation, 2001) to explore the multidimensional presentation of strengths and problems in young people with cystic fibrosis (CF), firstly examining its theoretical “fit” to the health condition, and secondly using it to characterise the performance of those with CF. Few studies in the literature demonstrate such an holistic approach to the physiotherapy assessment and management of this population. It was expected that this description of performance would provide a framework for identifying key areas for physiotherapy exercise intervention. This then formed the basis for further studies to examine the effect of a targeted exercise program (compared to current exercise practice) on inpatient outcomes, as well as on outcomes of outpatient management. The position paper included provides theoretical support for the ICF model as an appropriate tool in the management of young people with CF. Building on this, Study 1 explored the practical utility of the ICF model for describing the presentation of young inpatients and outpatients with CF. Eighty-four participants with CF were recruited as a consecutive series who satisfied selection criteria to provide a cross-sectional view at younger (7-12 years, n=51) and older (13-17 years, n=33) ages. Musculoskeletal, respiratory and physiological measures represented the body structures and functions domain, the six-minute walk test and jump tests were included in the activities domain, and participation was described by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire–Revised Version and Fels Physical Activity Questionnaire. Contextual factors were also considered (age, gender, inpatient/outpatient status). In this exploratory study, performance of this population was compared to normative data where available. Also, correlations between measures within and between ICF domains were examined as suggested by the model itself. Finally, effects of contextual factors on performance were investigated using univariate analysis of variance. This first study and the position paper support the ICF model as an effective tool for describing performance of young people with CF, and for investigating functional relationships within and between domains. Results showed significant differences in this population compared to normative data, and interrelationships were identified within and between ICF domains. Between inpatients and outpatients in the specified age groups, there was a statistically significant difference in means for a number of measures, whereby inpatients displayed consistently poorer mean scores than outpatients, with this effect significantly stronger in the older age group. The application of the ICF model was useful for highlighting areas to target in physiotherapy exercise intervention, and for substantiating selected measures to assess the program’s effectiveness across domains. Study 2 was a randomised controlled trial with blinded assessor, which investigated the effectiveness of a 10-14 day inpatient-based exercise program (the Cystic Fibrosis: Fitness Challenge) (CF:FC) tailored for young people with CF (7-17 years). The CF:FC program (n=15) included exercise strategies based on recommendations from previous work in the field, and from findings from Study 1. This program included a portable exercise package (FitKitTM) designed to be adaptable to limited space environments such as at the hospital bedside, important when inpatients with CF are isolated according to infection control procedures. Participants in the control program (n=16) received the current exercise practice provided for young people with CF at a tertiary hospital, which included mainly aerobic-type activities to affect airway clearance. Performance on study measures (scoped within the framework of the ICF model, presented in Study 1) were compared pre- and post-intervention (admission and completion of the inpatient exercise program) between the groups. This trial showed significant improvements for participants in both groups from admission to discharge for a range of measures, including respiratory function, muscle strength and quality of life measures. Participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements for some measures, for example: ankle dorsiflexor strength, six-minute walk distance and perception of their respiratory status. The continuation of the intervention and control programs into the outpatient setting was the focus of Study 3. The FitKitTM was provided for the intervention group, incorporating strategies to enhance adherence including a physical activity log (PAL) and internet-based follow-up. The control home exercise program consisted of the current practice provided on discharge. Interestingly, the control group improved significantly in hip abductor strength and six-minute walk distance during the outpatient period, whereas the intervention group sustained the improvements gained in the inpatient period but generally showed no further significant improvement. When the change from inpatient admission to outpatient follow-up was considered, it was apparent that greater improvements during the inpatient period provided a ‘buffer’ to accommodate for possible deteriorations in function in the outpatient phase. Issues regarding adherence to exercise programs during the outpatient period are discussed. This thesis confirms the usefulness of the ICF model for describing young people with CF, guiding assessment and review processes to achieve comprehensive management, and strengthening the evidence-base for targeted physiotherapy exercise intervention. A novel, tailored exercise program is introduced which is effective during inpatient periods, and provides a maintenance effect during outpatient periods, but strategies to enhance adherence during outpatient periods require further investigation.

Background: To improve and develop the psychiatric care it is important to evaluate the patient’s experiences. Regarding inpatient psychiatric care the patients’ experiences of satisfaction and quality of care is researched to a relatively small extent. For this reason, it can be difficult to identify important development areas.  Aim: The overall aim with this study was to measure the patients’ experiences of quality of care and satisfaction with inpatient psychiatric care.   Method: Cross-section study with a quantitative approach. Data was collected from one survey with questionnaires and analysed with descriptive and non-parametric statistic methods.  Main result: Regarding satisfaction patients estimated 3,0 of 4,0 in median on all the questions and around 3,0 in average. A slightly higher average (3,2) was seen in questions regarding if the patient would recommend the business to a friend, and how pleased the patients were with the extent of the help they had received. Regarding the experience of quality of care the highest ratings were seen in the dimensions Secluded environment and in Encounter. The lowest ratings were seen in Support. There were no significant differences between the subgroups regarding satisfaction. Neither were there any significant differences in the subgroups regarding quality of care, besides if the patient had previous inpatient care. This led to lower ratings for the experience of Secure environment. Correlation was seen between many of the dimensions and the questions about satisfaction.  Conclusion: This study shows that the participants are pleased in general with inpatient psychiatric care, even though there are low ratings in several areas. To improve the psychiatric care there is a need for further studies to get a broader picture

Bakgrund: Som sjukvården ser ut idag är det vanligt att patienter vårdas på flerbäddssal vilket kan upplevas olika av patienterna. Det kan uppstå situationer där det är svårt att bevara patienternas integritet och autonomi vid vård på flerbäddssal. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att studera patienters upplevelse av att vårdas på flerbäddssal. Metod: Litteraturstudie med kvalitativa artiklar från databaserna Pubmed och Cinahl. Resultat: En sammanställning av tolv artiklar gjordes. Fyra olika kategorier framkom; sömn, avskildhet, samvaro och välbefinnande. Patienter upplevde dels att de kunde bli störda av sina rumskamrater men vissa upplevde också en oro för att själva störa sina rumskamrater vilket påverkade patienternas sömnkvalitet. Gardinerna mellan sängarna på flerbäddssalen upplevdes ibland inte vara tillräckligt avskärmande eftersom rumskamraterna lätt överhörde privata konversationer. Något som uppskattades av patienterna var när sjuksköterskorna ansträngde sig för att bevara patienternas integritet, genom att exempelvis lägga över en extra filt för att minska kroppslig exponering. Patienterna kunde känna en gemenskap sinsemellan på flerbäddssalarna och kunde därmed finna tröst och trygghet i varandra. Slutsats: Att patienten får känna att hen har ett privat utrymme och möjlighet till avskildhet upplevdes vara mycket viktigt vid vård på flerbäddssal. Emellertid upplevdes flerbäddssalen som hemtrevlig av andra patienter som kände ett behov av ett socialt umgänge och det var ofta positivt att ha sällskap av en rumskamrat eftersom patienterna kände en gemenskap och därmed kunde finna tröst och trygghet hos varandra. Eftersom varje individ är unik och upplever situationer på olika sätt kan inte sjuksköterskan förutsätta att alla vill vårdas på samma sätt. En sjuksköterska bör vårda varje patient på ett individanpassat sätt där sjuksköterskan värnar om patientens integritet. / Background: As medical care looks today it is common for patients to be treated in a multi-bed room, which can be experienced differently by patients. There may be situations where it is difficult to preserve the patient's integrity and autonomy when being treated in a multi-bed room. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study the patient's experience of being treated in a multi-bed room. Method: A literature study with qualitative articles from the databases Pubmed and Cinahl. Results: A compilation of twelve articles was made. Four different categories emerged; sleep, privacy, fellowship and well-being. These categories describe the patient's experience of care in a multi-bedroom. Some patients experienced that they could be disturbed by their roommates. However, some patients were anxious about interfering with their roommates themselves, which affected the patient's sleep quality. The curtains between the beds in the multi-bed room were sometimes not sufficiently shielded which lead to the roommates easily overheard private conversations. The patients appreciated when the nurses attempted to maintain patient integrity, for example by adding an extra blanket to reduce bodily exposure. Patients could feel a fellowship with each other in the multi-bed rooms, thus finding comfort and security in each other. Conclusion: The feeling of having a private space and the possibility of privacy was very important when getting care in a multi-bedroom. However, other patients felt that the multi-bedroom was homelike because they enjoyed the social interaction. Therefore, it was often positive to have a roommate. The patients felt a fellowship and thus found comfort and security with each other. Because everyone is unique, they experience situations differently and the nurse cannot assume that everyone wants to be cared for in the same way. A nurse should take care of each patient in an individualized manner where the nurse is responsible for the patient's integrity.

Bakgrund: Undernäring definieras av att energi- och näringsintaget understiger behovet. Tillståndet resulterar i bl.a. viktnedgång. Ett mått för att mäta undernäring är kroppsmasseindex (BMI). Vid sjukdom ökar kroppens metabolism som gör att energi- och näringsbehovet ökar samtidigt som sjukdomen i sig försvårar matintaget. Riskbedömning är ett hjälpmedel för sjuksköterskor som bör utföras vid varje patient. Sjuksköterskan är enligt lag skyldig till att tidigt upptäcka undernäring eller risk för undernäring och sätta in relevanta åtgärder för att förhindra försämring.   Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa i vilken utsträckning sjuksköterskan dokumenterar riskbedömning för undernäring samt vilka åtgärder som utförs för att förebygga och/eller behandla undernäring under sjukhusvistelsen.   Metod: Studien har kvantitativ, prospektiv och deskriptiv design och har utförts genom journalgranskning.   Resultat: Resultatet visade att 31% av de inneliggande patienterna hade undernäring eller risk för undernäring. De tre vanligaste åtgärderna som sattes in mot undernäring var kostregistrering, beräknat energibehov samt daglig vikt. Riskbedömning utfördes på 47% av alla patienter, det innebär att ungefär hälften av alla patienter inte fått någon riskbedömning. Uppföljning av insatta åtgärder förekom inte i någon journal.   Slutsats: Endast 47% av alla inneliggande patienter hade fått en fullständig riskbedömning dokumenterad i journalen. De flesta insatta åtgärder är standardiserade evalueringar och motverkar i sig inte undernäring utan kräver kompletterande åtgärder. / Background: Malnutrition is defined by deficits in the energy- and nutrition levels. This state results in weight loss. One way to measure malnutrition is through a body-mass index (BMI). During illness, the body’s metabolism increases, which in return requires a greater intake of energy- and nutrition. At the same time, the state of the illness may make the food intake more difficult. Risk evaluation is an aid for nurses that should be performed with every patient. The nurse is required by law to discover malnutrition or risk of malnutrition at an early stage and put in relevant interventions to prevent deterioration of the patients’ physical health.   Objective: The aim of the study was to highlight to what extent the nurses document risk evaluation for malnutrition and what interventions were used to prevent malnutrition during the hospital stay.   Method: The study has a quantitative, prospective and descriptive design and was performed as a journal evaluation.   Result: The results showed that 31% of the inpatients suffered of malnutrition or risk thereof. The three most common interventions against malnutrition were: nutritional dietary records, estimated energy requirements and daily weight. Risk evaluation was performed on 47% of all patients, which means that half of the studied patients receive no evaluation at all. Follow up of the interventions were not presented in any journal.   Conclusion: Only 47% of all inpatients had a complete risk evaluation documented in their journal. Most of the interventions are standardized evaluations and do not in itself counteract malnutrition but need complementary interventions.

Acute inpatient mental health nursing staff provide mental health care for individuals when they are most vulnerable and unwell. The therapeutic relationship can facilitate positive changes and recovery for individuals. Therefore, understanding nursing staff’s attitudes is paramount. In this thesis, the attitudes of nursing staff towards those experiencing mental health difficulties was explored. In the systematic review, the attitudes of European nursing staff supporting those experiencing severe mental health difficulties were synthesised and evaluated. A total of 14 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. The review identified that the role of personal experiences of mental health difficulties through friends or family members was shown to elicit more positive attitudes. Overall attitudes amongst nursing staff were varied, and factors that influenced these attitudes were less clear and consistent. The limitation of using cross-sectional questionnaires to explore attitudes was also discussed. Moreover, recommendations regarding further research priorities as well as clinical implications were identified. Nursing staff’s attitudes towards adults who were either ‘informal’ voluntary clients or those who had been admitted under the Mental Health Act (1983) to an inpatient ward were explored in the empirical paper. The attitudes of nursing staff have the potential to impact on the development of therapeutic relationships and therefore upon treatment outcomes. Repertory grid interviews were completed with twelve nursing staff. All staff made critical judgements about some of their clients; however, staff who used more dimensions to construe clients made less clear distinctions between clients and non-clients. The findings highlight the need for support mechanisms that enable staff to formulate clients’ difficulties and explore the complexity of interactions. The implications of these results are discussed, as well as future research directions. The final paper consists of a critical reflection of the research and the research process. This includes an evaluation of the decision making processes and discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this research.

Abstract Ensuring of Respite Care Services in the Česká Lípa Region after Releasing of Patients from Hospital The goal of this thesis is to map the scope, the quality and further relationships of respite care in the Česká Lípa region in case of patients released from hospitals for whom a respite care is indicated, to find shortcomings of the systém and to propose optimal solutions of problems. There were two hypotheses set: H1: Sufficient respite care services are not provided to clients at weekends, H2: Consecutive respite care is not duly indicated by physicians to all clients released from hospitals who need it. The theoretical part of the thesis describes characteristics of respite care, its meaning and the process of ins development. The research was carried out trough the questioning method, using questionnaires and anasysis of documents. The other part of the thesis presents the results of performed quantitative research. These results were acquired by means of evaluation of questionnaires. The anasysis of acquired data confirmed both the supposed hypotheses. The discussion elucidates some problems related to the given theme and the conclusion of the thesis recommends some measures to improve the quality and continuity of providing the respite care services in the Česká Lípa region. The results of the thesis may inspire the existing as well as newly established respite care agencies to increase the quality of respite care.