The profile of long-stay patients in a psychiatric hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Journal: The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa

Volume: 31

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Discipline of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Abstract summary 

South African psychiatric hospitals' inpatient average length of stay is approximately 220 days. Inpatient care accounts for over 80% of the mental national healthcare budget. However, there is limited research on factors associated with length of stay (LOS) in tertiary psychiatric hospitals.To determine the threshold for long-stay and describe the socio-demographic and clinical profile of long-stay patients admitted to a tertiary psychiatric hospital.Townhill Hospital: a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.A retrospective review of clinical records of admissions between January 2019 and January 2020 was conducted. Information on LOS, sociodemographic and clinical factors was collected. The interquartile range (IQR) of LOS in days was calculated, with patients above 75th percentile classified as long-stay patients.In total, 326 records were included. The 75th percentile LOS was 120 days. Eighty-three patients (25.46%) had a stay of 120 days or longer. The median LOS was 73 (IQR 49-120) days. Factors associated with long-stay included being male ( < 0.001), a psychotic disorder diagnosis ( = 0.019), receiving a disability grant ( = 0.050), involuntary admission ( = 0.010) and multiple readmissions ( = 0.010).Psychotic disorders and associated factors are key contributors to long-stay hospitalisations.This study highlights the burden of inpatient care for psychotic disorders and the need for interventions that optimise care and promote remission. To reduce the economic impact of prolonged hospitalisations, early intervention and enhanced community-based mental healthcare services focused on psychotic disorders are recommended.

Authors & Co-authors:  Myeni Siziphiwe Y SY Ntlantsana Vuyokazi V Tomita Andrew A Aguwa Ugochukwu S US Bridgmohun Reyanta R Shabalala Sinethemba S

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Docrat S, Besada D, Cleary S, Daviaud E, Lund C. Mental health system costs, resources and constraints in South Africa: A national survey. Health Policy Plann. 2019;34(9):706–719. 10.1093/heapol/czz085
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 2358
SSN : 1608-9685
Study Population
Male
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
inpatient;involuntary admissions;length of stay;long-stay;multiple admissions;profile;psychiatry;psychotic disorders
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
South Africa