Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139:660-662
Copyright © 1982 by American Psychiatric Association
Assessing patient satisfaction with state hospital and aftercare services
A Bene-Kociemba, PG Cotton and RC Fortgang
To assess patients' satisfaction with state hospital and aftercare
services, the authors administered an open-ended interview to 22 former
state hospital patients. The patients expressed marked dissatisfaction with
their treatment in the hospital, but 78% said they were helped by the
aftercare services. Important components of their satisfaction were feeling
helped, feeling understood, and feeling that the aftercare worker was
available when needed. Frequency and length of meetings and types of
assistance were not related to satisfaction. The patients reported that the
psychotherapeutic and task-oriented assistance were equally helpful.
