The Quality of Life of Chronic Mental Patients according to Therapeutic Environment

Bae, Ahn; Kim, Jin Hak; Park, Su Hee; Kim, Mung Ku; Kim, Jung Won

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to figure out the characteristics and differences of therapeutic environment by classifying into closed-ward inpatient, open-ward inpatient and community residence outpatient environment and comparing objective and subjective quality of life of each group.
METHODS
The subjects consisted of 67 open-ward chronic inpatients, 58 closed -ward inpatients in the National Naju Mental Hospital and 85 outpatients living in Naju. We measured objective and subjective quality of life using semi-structural interview by Leman's quality of life scale and compared the 3 groups. We used one-way ANOVA and chi-square test to analyze the differences of the 3 groups.
RESULTS
Open-ward inpatients who have autonomy and various community service program were more satisfied with their general life than the others. Community residence outpatients spent more money and less assaults experience but their leisure activities and social contact frequencies were lower than in the inpatients. Outpatients were less satisfied with their health, finances and leasure activities. Inpatients had more leisure activities and higher social contact frequency than outpatients. They were more satisfied with their finances despite of spending less the money monthly than the outpatients. They experienced violence and damage more often for the past one year and were more satisfied with their health.
CONCLUSION
The quality of life reported by chronic mental patients differed according to the characteristics of therapeutic environment. The life-quality of open-ward inpatients were the highest among the 3 groups. It is necessary to serve various community service program so that we can improve the life-quality of community residence outpatients.