Family Engagement,Consumer Satisfaction and Treatment Outcome in the New Era of Child and Adolescent In-Patient Psychiatric Care

Abstract

This study examined the association between family engagement and consumer satisfaction for the seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents admitted to an in-patient psychiatric unit in a large medical center. Participants were 45 male and female in-patients, aged 7–17, and their parents. At the time their child was discharged, parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, and the Inpatient Parental Satisfaction Index. At the same time, the child’s psychiatrist completed the Family Engagement Questionnaire. Results indicated that engagement is related to satisfaction, prior in-patient treatment is negatively related to engagement, and satisfaction with prior in-patient services is highly predictive of satisfaction with current services. At 9-month follow-up, 32% of the sample had been re-hospitalized. Rehospitalization was associated with poorer engagement in treatment and lower parent ratings of satisfaction with care. These results suggest the existence of a group of patients who undergo repeat hospitalizations with poor levels of engagement in their care.

Keywords

consumer satisfaction engagement in-patient care treatment outcome

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