The Question is the Answer: concerns and queries raised by patients and caregivers referred to rehabilitation services

Abstract

Background: The philosophy of recovery emphasises consumer participation and engagement in developing effective rehabilitation services. Assessment of consumer perspectives and concerns lies at the heart of responsive and relevant rehabilitation frameworks.

Aim: The study aimed to document and examine patient and caregiver queries, at their first contact with Rehabilitation Services.

Methods: The sample consisted of 124 consecutive inpatients and their accompanying caregiver/s, referred to Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, within a tertiary care psychiatric hospital in India. The data were collected using the semi-structured Inpatient Intake proforma during the intake session. The spontaneous queries raised by patients and/or caregivers were documented and content analysis identified themes, separately for patients and caregivers.

Results: The results indicated both similarities and differences in the frequency of themes that emerged from questions asked by patients and their caregivers. Two prominent themes centered on specific queries about rehabilitation services and the treatment and prognosis of the psychiatric illness.

Conclusions: The findings have implications for training, practice and research in the field of psychosocial rehabilitation. Recommendations are made for training and practice frameworks to facilitate consumer-service provider communication towards the development of responsive recovery-oriented services.

• Caregivers
• consumer participation
• frequently asked questions
• psychiatric inpatients
• psychosocial rehabilitation
• recovery-oriented services

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Arun Chahar for his assistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no financial support or relationship that may pose a conflict of interest.

Notes

¹The Inpatient Intake Proforma is available on request from the authors.