The Effects of Discharge Planning on Insight, Symptoms and Hospitalization of Schizophrenia Patients at Iran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals

The present study was carried out to assess the efficacy of discharge planning on insight, clinical symptoms and frequency of hospitalization in patients with schizophrenia. In this clinical experiment, 46 inpatients with schizophrenia at hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, were selected according to inclusion criteria, and were assigned to two experimental and control groups. Discharge planning for the experimental group was designed based upon nursing process, and was carried out for six sessions at the hospital and six sessions at the patients’ residence (for three months after discharge). Data were gathered using demographic questionnaire, patient discharge list, and measurement of insight. Data were analyzed using Friedman tests, independent t-test, c2, Mann Whitney U, and McNemar test. The experimental group’s insight was higher than the control group at discharge (t=-9.63, p<0.001) and three months after discharge (t=-9.63, p<0.001). With regard to clinical symptoms, the experimental group was better compared to the control group at discharge (t=-7.34, p<0.001) and three months after discharge (t=-14.67, p<0.001). Also, regarding hospitalization, there was significant difference in the experimental group between before and three months after hospitalization; however, the difference was not significant in the control group. A more favourable insight, decrease in clinical symptoms, and a decrease in the frequency of hospitalization are among the benefits of discharge program, which deserve special attention, regarding high rate of relapse and re-admission of patients with schizophrenia, and the high budget allocated to the care and treatment of these patients.