Mental health professionals' psychotropic pro re nata (p.r.n.) medication practices in acute inpatient mental health care: a qualitative study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
This article aims to explore mental health professionals' common clinical practices associated with the prescription and administration of pro re nata (p.r.n.) psychotropic medication within acute inpatient mental health settings.

METHOD:
A convenience sample of 59 mental health professionals participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews that explored their p.r.n. psychotropic medication practices in acute mental health settings in a large city in the United Kingdom in 2005. Thematic content analysis was carried out.

RESULTS:
Mental health professionals identified a number of themes that were associated with their clinical practices. These included a balanced usefulness of p.r.n. psychotropic medications, factors that influenced their decision making and use of p.r.n. as a clinical intervention and widespread variations in clinical practices. These findings have important implications on how p.r.n. psychotropic medications use differs between individuals, professional groups and organizations within acute inpatient mental health settings.

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Author information

Author/s: Baker, John Anthony (JA); Lovell, Karina (K); Harris, Neil (N);

Affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. john.a.baker(-atsign-)manchester.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: General hospital psychiatry (Gen Hosp Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2007 Mar-Apr; vol 29 (issue 2) : pp 163-8

Dates: Created 2007/03/05; Completed 2007/05/08; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17336666, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy - statistics & numerical data
Health Personnel
Humans
Mental Disorders - drug therapy

Mental Disorders - drug therapy
Mental Health Services - manpower
Patient Education as Topic
Professional-Patient Relations
Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use

Associated Chemicals: Psychotropic Drugs (0)

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