P03-17 - Nursing Demands of Patients with Schizophrenia with Long Term Maintenance Treatment at Home

Abstract

In the last seven years there has been an increase in the number of schizophrenia disease in Lithuania (in 2002-2369,5; in 2008-2795,65 to 100.000 residents). The length of treatment in residential care is getting shorter because of changing regulations.

Objective

The goal of the study to explore nursing demands in patients with schizophrenia disorders with long term maintenance treatment at home.

Methods

Research was carried out in four Kaunas primary mental health centers. We used standardized International Mental Health Quality Of Life Scale (QOL-36) questionnaire implemented by Phillip W. Long (2003). Our group was randomly selected and consisted of 123 patients with schizophrenia aging from 18 to 65 years.

Results

Several main problems were disclosed: 46% reduced everyday home activities, 68 % mentioned physical fatigue, apathy- 60%, sleep disorders- 81%, memory and attention disorders- 64%, communication problems- 76%. 25% of respondents had suicidal attempt. There were more suicidal attempts in younger patients than others (p < 0,05). We disclosed statistically confident correlation between disease duration and suicidal attempts (p < 0,05). For the senior patients the most often were communication problems (50%), sleep disorders (55%), memory and attention disorders (53%).

Conclusions

The most frequent nursing demands mentioned by patients are caused by memory and attention disorders, as well as sleep disorders. Those problems most frequently occur among older respondents.