Three years of follow-up monitoring: Perspectives of formerly hospitalized patients and their families

Authors

• Mollie C. Grob, McLean Hospital
• Susan V. Eisen, McLean Hospital
• Jeffrey S. Berman, McLean Hospital

Abstract

In recent years, the need for evaluation of hospitalized psychiatric patients has become widely recognized. However, evaluation is a broad term encompassing many varied approaches. Erickson⁷ suggests that hospital programs may involve as many as six parties, including the patient, state, local community, family, hospital staff, and therapist. Each party has particular goals and a unique perspective. Thus, evaluation requires a decision as to whose perspective to take. Earlier analyses of human service organizations rarely used patient or family perspectives, tending to perpetuate the notion that the client's perspective is biased.⁹ However, recently, several investigators have attested to the reliability and validity of these viewpoints.^6-8,10,11 After carrying out a number of studies, Ellsworth,⁶ in particular, highlights the value of using feedback from former patients and their families to provide a better understanding of the community experience following hospital discharge. In the present follow-up evaluation, we focused on the perspectives of former inpatients and their nearest relatives with regard to aspects of the patients' general level of functioning and satisfaction with hospital care 6 months post-discharge. © 1978.

Publication Title

Comprehensive Psychiatry

Recommended Citation

Grob, M., Eisen, S., & Berman, J. (1978). Three years of follow-up monitoring: Perspectives of formerly hospitalized patients and their families. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 19 (6), 491-499. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-440X(78)90080-9