OBJECTIVE : The aims of this study were to clarify the characteristics of outpatients with schizophrenia receiving psychiatric nursing at home and to evaluate factors related to re-hospitalization.
METHODS : The subjects were 55 outpatients with schizophrenia who were receiving psychiatric home visits and 31 non-users. An interview was conducted based on a questionnaire on age, gender, family members, psychiatric symptoms, attitude to drug use, and self-assessment of efficacy etc.; and we examined factors related to re-hospitalization.
RESULTS : Most subjects (86%) lived with their families. The percentage that lived alone was higher among those receiving nursing visits than non-recipients. Of the average age of the nursing recipients was higher than that of the non-recipients, the mean period of hospitalization was longer and the period after discharge was shorter than for the latter. The self-assessed score for efficacy among the nursing recipients who were re-hospitalized was higher than among those who were not re-hospitalized.
CONCLUSIONS : It is suggested that schizophrenia patients with serious symptoms or without family support can live in the community by using home visits by psychiatric nurses. The visiting nurses are requested to advise the patients so that they are able to assess their own capabilities and to control their own condition.