The effect of an occupational therapy mental health day treatment centre on the use of in-patient services in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Date
2015-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: The high number of mental health care users requiring care, the quick turnover in psychiatric hospitals and the scarcity of community-based mental health services are some of the factors that have led to a dramatic increase in the number of high frequency users of in-patient psychiatric services. In an attempt to address these issues, an occupational therapy-led day treatment centre was established at Stikland Hospital in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine whether attendance at an occupational therapy-led community day treatment centre for mental health care users affects the use of in-patient services in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Methods: A pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental study design was used to determine the benefits of the occupational therapy-led day treatment centre. Total population sampling was used. Forty four mental health care users participated in the study. The number of admissions and number of days spent in hospital before and after occupational therapy intervention were compared using statistical analysis. Results: The analysis showed a significant difference in the number of admissions (p = .00) and the number of days spent in hospital (p = .00) before and after the occupational therapy intervention. There was a decrease in the number of admissions of 62.3% after intervention. Twenty-five participants (56.8%) had fewer admissions after intervention than before. Total days spent in hospital for the group showed a decrease of 74.6% after intervention. Days spent in hospital became shorter by up to 7 months after occupational therapy intervention. This indicated a medium effect size (r = .436) for number of admissions and a large effect size (r = .504) for number of days spent in hospital after intervention. The frequency of attending the day treatment centre had no influence on number of admissions (p = .410) or on the number of days spent in hospital (p = .579) after intervention. Conclusion: The findings suggest that an occupational therapy-led day treatment centre is effective in reducing the use of in-patient services within the Western Cape, South Africa. In addition providing a range of opportunities for meaningful participation may be more important than the intensity of treatment when promoting recovery.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Die groot hoeveelhied persone wat psigiatriese sorg benodig, die vinnige omset in psigiatriese hospitale asook die tekort aan gemeenskaps psigiatriese dienste is van die faktore wat lei tot ‘n toename in persone wat gereëlde heropname benodig. As moontlike oplossing vir die probleem is ‘n dagbehandelingsentrum geopen by Stikland Hospitaal in die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid Afrika. Die doel van die studie was om vas te stel of ‘n dagbehandelingsentrum, onder leiding van ‘n arbeidsterapeut, effektief is in die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid Afrika vir persone met psigiatriese siektes. Metode: ‘n Voortoets-natoets kwasi-eksperimentele studie metode is gebruik om die voordele van ’n arbeidsterapie gedrewe dagbehandelingsentrum te bepaal. Totale bevolking steekproef is gebruik. Vier en veertig persone met ‘n psigiatriese diagnose het deelgeneem aan die studie. Die hoeveelheid opnames asook hoeveelheid dae spandeer in die hospitaal voor en na die arbeidsterapie intervensie is vergelyk. Resultate: Resultate het getoon dat daar ‘n beduidende verskil was tussen die hoeveelheid opnames (p = .00) en die hoeveelheid dae in die hospital (p = .00) voor en na arbeidsterapie intervensie. Die groep se hoeveelheid opnames het met 62.3% gedaal na intervensie. Vyf en twintig deelnemers (56.8%) het minder opnames gehad na intervensie as voor intervensie. Data toon ‘n medium effekgrootte (r = .436). Die totale dae in die hospitaal vir die groep het met 74.6% afgeneem na intervensie. Dae spandeer in die hospitaal het met tot 7maande verkort na arbeidsterapie intervensie. Dit toon‘n groot effekgrootte (r = .504). Die frekwensie van bywoning het geen invloed getoon op die hoeveelheid opnames (p = .410) of hoeveelheid dae in die hospitaal (p = .579) nie. Gevolgtrekking: Die studie het gevind dat, in die Wes-Kaap, ‘n arbeidsterapie gedrewe dagbehandelingsentrum ‘n effektiewe en uitvoerbare opsie is om die druk op binne-pasiënt dienste te verlig. Die studie het verder getoon dat betekenisvolle deelname aan aktiwiteite moontlik belangriker is vir herstel na ‘n psigiatriese siekte as intensiteit van behandeling.
Description
Thesis (MOccTher)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
Keywords
Occupational therapy -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Day treatment centres -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Mental illness -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Cape Town, In-patient services -- South Africa -- Cape Town, UCTD
Citation