Re-hospitalization of Psychiatric Residents of a Long-stay Care Home

The aim of this study was to examine independent variables such as socio-demographic, psychopathologic, and rehabilitative support background that might predict re-hospitalization among psychiatric residents of a long-stay care home (LSCH) in Hong Kong. The re-hospitalization of psychiatric residents with mental health needs who were admitted to a long-stay care home during a 2-year period was analyzed retrospectively in this study. Descriptive statistics were gathered to study the distribution of the sample data. Logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of re-hospitalization. 176 residents (mean age 56.9, SD 8.4 years) were included, of whom 73% were male. The psychopathologic characteristics of most residents were similar in that 94.9% of them had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Within the 2-year period the incidence of re-hospitalization among the LSCH residents was 267 out of a population of 1,000. Gender, age, a history of suicide attempts, referral from an acute psychiatric setting, and lack of participation in a rehabilitative training program were the predictors of re-hospitalization. Strategic interventions to improve the current rehabilitative support services of LSCHs are discussed.