Comprehension of Terminology Related to Treatment and Patients' Right by Inpatient Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Forty newly admitted psychiatric inpatient children and adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 17 years were asked to give definitions of treatment and rights terminology, to paraphrase sentences about treatment and patients' rights and responsibilities, and to choose accurate paraphrases of these sentences from preconstructed alternatives. Multiple regression analyses showed that abstract reasoning ability, decision-making ability, IQ and age were significant predictors of comprehension of treatment and patients' rights. However, qualitative analyses indicated that there are many gaps in the ability of minors of different ages and different levels of IQ and reasoning ability to comprehend information related to treatment and patients' rights.