Quality of life for long-stay patients of psychiatric hospitals: a literature study

Abstract

The aim of this literature review is to provide an answer to the following questions: (1) What is known about the quality of life and quality of care for long-stay psychiatric patients? (2) What does literature say about possible contributions that health-care professionals may make to the quality of life for this target group? We conducted an open literature search across national and international databases, and added relevant literature by using cross-references. The quality of life and quality of care for long-stay psychiatric patients has been the subject of research on a limited scale only. Publications in this field provide a picture of patients with wishes and requirements that are generally basic and modest in nature. They also show that patients greatly value good relations with their care providers. This literature review shows that little is known about the quality of life of long-stay psychiatric patients and this review also shows that the relational aspects of care provide an eminent opportunity for care providers to contribute to the quality of life of their patients. Long-stay patients need care providers who are capable of developing and maintaining a caring relationship of the highest quality that will endure for many years. In their daily work, nurses have good opportunities to develop and maintain meaningful and reciprocal relationships with severely ill people, but this is a task that makes great demands on nurses in terms of both knowledge and interhuman skills. These skills should be given special attention both in nurse education and by supervisors.