Discharge planning and post-discharge follow-up care practice in psychiatry department at Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study has explored discharge planning (DP) and post-discharge follow-up care (PDFC) practice at Jimma Medical Center. The purpose of the study was to understand the practice of DP, PDFC at JMC psychiatry department. The study used a cross-sectional qualitative case study research design with exploratory purpose. Participants were selected purposefully and their size determined based on the principle of data saturation point. Data were collected via in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), document review, and observation. Thematic analysis was used for the data analysis. Securing the consent of the participants and reporting in aggregate fashion to conceal participants’ identity were some of the techniques for research ethics. The finding revealed poor practice of DP and PDFC in the psychiatry clinic and gaps in having a standard PDFC program such as inadequate human power, absence of health education, inadequate medication and no community based mental health center. In addition, there is no linking strategy between DP and PDFC that exposed clients to experience non-stopping appointments, relapses, and readmissions. The hospital social worker has only very limited role in the process. We suggested interventions including further study to address the issues to come-up with quality services in DP and follow-up care.

Key Terms: case-study, client/discharge-planning, post-discharge, psychiatry, social worker, Ethiopia