M.A. / This study explores the narratives of two South African women, who have previously been admitted as patients, to various psychiatric institutions in Gauteng. In particular, this study focuses on the women’s perceptions of the ward round process, within the context of hospitalisation. An attempt has been made to explore the wider context of the ward round and hospitalisation, by examining the medical model, its philosophy and the various problems associated with the medical model. The concepts of power, respect and pathologising discourse in particular, are focussed on. The study suggests that an ecosystemic model might serve as a useful alternative to the medical model in addressing the above-mentioned problems. This research was conducted in the form of an inquiry, within the context of a social constructionist perspective. As such, the research methodology employed is also based within the social constructionist paradigm. The themes raised in the conversations with the participants, are seen to be a social co-construction, which has evolved between the researcher and the participants. The social constructionist approach also means that the researcher has applied a reflexive stance, whereby narratives of the participants and the researcher, are linked to a reflection of the content and the various processes that took place within the context of the research. The narratives of the participants suggest that ward rounds are seen to be useful and necessary, but that within the context of the ward round, issues such as respect and transparency are important and should be taken into account. It is stressed within the context of this research, that these findings are localised and specific. As such they can not necessarily be seen to reflect the ‘truths’ of all people, who have experienced the process of ward rounds within the context of hospitalisation.

The purpose of this research is to provide a descriptive study of selected social and psychiatric characteristics of adolescent first admissions to a private psychiatric hospital and an analysis of some of the inter-relationships among social, ecological, demographic and psychiatric variables selected for study.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nebraska--Lincoln, 2004. / PDF text: [2] leaves abstract, [123] leaves dissertation. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-61 of dissertation).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-57).

This thesis deals with the architecture of the inclusive built environment. The hypothesis argues that social barriers can be challenged through the physical formation of the city, its buildings and spaces. The platform used to explore this premise is Weskoppies Hospital situated in Pretoria West. The stigmatization and institutionalisation of the mentally ill has been a hotly debated issue for a long time. Recently the topic has received a lot of attention in the media, parliament and medical circles. The issues underpinning the hypothesis deals with the “power of architecture to address social, economic, political and cultural forces by way of form- and place-making.” (Yudell 1997:134) / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

No description available.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Background: Nurses, because of their close contact with these patients, are frequently victims of assault. The aim of the study is to explore and describe the lived experiences of nurses, who have been assaulted by patients at a Western Cape psychiatric hospital. Research Design: A qualitative approach, using a phenomenological research design was used to achieve the aim of the study. The target population was nurses, who are employed at the hospital under study. A purposive sampling, consisting of six nurses, was selected to participate in this study. Data were collected by means of unstructured interviews with nurses who met the inclusion criteria. Data saturation was reached after the sixth individual interview. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed, verbatim, and field notes were taken, as well. Collaizi’s method of data analysis was used to analyse the data and to identify themes and categories. The major themes that emerged were: Self-care incongruent to intrapersonal interest; Personal responses to trauma; Incongruence between patient behaviour and participant work experience; unprotected staff vulnerable to patient aggression; required and received supportive interventions. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Senate Ethics Committee at the University of the Western Cape. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee at a psychiatric hospital under study, as well as from the Department of Health, Western Cape. Participants were drawn from different units of the hospital. Findings: The findings revealed that nurses working at this psychiatric hospital frequently encounter assault and violence by patients, while providing care, to the extent that they view the workplace environment as unsafe and insecure. The way they experienced the assaults had some similarities; they all complained that they felt neglected by management after the assaults and that they experienced multiple bodily reactions to trauma. Recommendations: From the data gathered, it appeared that nurses were calling for support from those in authority, be it supervisors or hospital management. Some of the recommendations made by the researcher were: regular refresher courses on self-awareness training; counselling/debriefing; skills development workshops on management of aggression; and the feasibility of paying a special allowance to staff. Conclusion: The study revealed that lack of management support perpetuates the cycle of violence experienced, which, in most incidents, has a spill over effect in the personal lives of the nurses, who have been assaulted by patients. It is the researcher’s belief that nurses should be supported in this stressful environment.

This study compares selected social characteristics of first admissions to a private psychiatric hospital in the calendar years 1940 and 1960 with the white populations of Texas and Dallas County. In addition, this study compares selected background characteristics of first admissions to determine what, if any, change occurred in these characteristics between 1940 and 1960.

MPH, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Background: General public hospitals in South Africa are currently overloaded with psychiatric patients who cannot be transferred to specialised psychiatric hospitals because of lack of beds. Identification of factors influencing bed occupancy could be used to model ideal referral systems for psychiatric patients. There has been no known study conducted in the specialised psychiatric hospitals in South Africa to assess patient profiles since the implementation of the Mental Health Care Act of 2002. This study was planned to determine the length of stay in a psychiatric hospital in Gauteng Province and to identify factors that could influence the length of stay in that hospital. Aims: To determine the length of stay in specialty units and the influence of specific factors on length of stay at the Tara - the H Moross Centre, during a one-year period. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study which involved the analysis of retrospective data for a one-year period. This data is routinely collected by the Hospital. Variables included age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, employment status, medical aid utilisation, education level, hospital classification, unit of admission, access to hospital, source of referral, season, frequency of admissions, medico-legal status, and length of stay. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. Permission was obtained from the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development, and the University of the Witwatersrand Ethics and Postgraduate Committees. Results: The findings indicate that most patients stay in Tara for 49 (29-78) days, which is in keeping with the expectation of this hospital, which is an acute to medium term psychiatric hospital. Significant differences in gender, ethnicity, marital status, employment status, medical AID status and hospital classification among different wards was established. The clinical profile was predominantly biochemical related disorders from public tertiary and public secondary hospitals reflecting the under privileged groups in the population. Social demographic factors and clinical profiles were found to significantly influence the LOS. Gender, ethnicity, employment status, and source of referral were more influential. Conclusion: A follow up study could look at the readmission rates of these patients who stay in the hospital for this short period to determine if the rehabilitation programmes are indeed effective or the patients are being discharged prematurely only to be readmitted.

Abstract There is no literature explores the relationship between manpower and performance of the Taiwan¡¦s psychiatric hospitals yet. This research takes samples from seven public psychiatric hospitals in Taiwan to investigate: 1. Performance measurement of psychiatric hospitals. 2. The influence of psychiatric hospitals¡¦ manpower inputs on service performance. The orientations of data analysis in this research are research framework and research hypotheses, and then collect data from seven domestic public psychiatric hospitals. According to the nature of gathered data, we applied SPSS software on Descriptive Statistics, Pearson Correlation Analysis, K-Means Cluster Analysis, and t-test for difference of two samples mean, to explore the relationship between manpower input and service performance. Research outcomes: 1¡BAlthough service items don¡¦t increase in high professional manpower structure compare to low professional manpower structure, the service amounts increased significantly. Test results show that the hypothesis 1-1 is not supported, but hypothesis 1-2 is supported. 2¡BGroups with higher manpower quality input have significant increasing in service items¡¦ performances, but not significant statistically. Even though groups with higher manpower quality increased service items, the service amounts do not raise. However, groups with lower manpower quality input have significant increasing in service amounts¡¦ performances. It means that the significantly negative correlation between manpower quality and service amounts¡¦ performances. Test results show the hypothesis 2-1 is not supported, neither is hypothesis 2-2. 3¡BEven though the service items¡¦ performances have no significant increasing in the groups with high formal and contracted personnel percentages input, the service amounts are increased significantly. Therefore, the difference of formal and contracted personnel percentages input has significant influence on service amounts. Test results show the hypothesis 3-1 is not supported, but hypothesis3-2 is supported. 4¡BPsychiatric hospitals with high manpower costs input do not increase service items, but increase service amounts. Test results show the hypothesis 4-1 is not supported, but hypothesis 4-2 is supported. ¡@The relationship between psychiatric hospital¡¦s manpower input and service performance is clearly realized through this research, which could be the reference for hospital managers to adjust profession manpower and to employ personnel in the future. Meanwhile, it can facilitate managers to control correct developments, to use every manpower portfolio engaging in medical operations, and to exert maximum efficiency of human resources with most economical manpower costs to improve psychiatric hospitals¡¦ service performances. ¡iKeywords¡j: Psychiatric hospital, Manpower input, Service performance