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What do day hospital attenders really want?

A survey of patient preferences

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury M27 1HA

Louis Appleby, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry

Withington Hospital, Manchester M20 8LR

Correspondence: ^* Correspondence

The views of psychiatric day hospital patients on the helpfulness of components of their treatment programme were surveyed. Ratings given to social activities were significantly higher than those given to therapeutic activities. Patients rated having a bus pass and access to hairdressing services as the most helpful parts of day hospital attendance while community meetings and ward round attendance were regarded as the least helpful. Ratings were, however, generally favourable. No significant effect of patient age, gender, or duration of attendance was found. Possible explanations for these preferences are discussed. Patient preferences such as these are likely to influence purchasers of care, and thus the use of resources by providers.