S228. SOCIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL FUNCTIONING AND SATISFACTION WITH CARE IN FINNISH FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS PATIENTS
Authors: Barrientos Paula , Suvisaari Jaana , Kieseppä Tuula 
Published: May 2020

Background

Patient satisfaction with care (PSC) is a valuable predictor in both quality of life and treatment outcomes with psychiatric patients. First episode psychosis (FEP) patients are a diverse group of usually young adults. Determining the factors behind PSC in FEP patients could be an important tool in planning better care programs and predictive tools for the outcome of FEP. Many FEP patients are still on the cusp of their adult lives. Achieving better treatment adherence by higher PSC could help many people back to their studies or work lives and enhance their quality of life and social and occupational functioning. Determining background factors and associations with better PSC would help tailoring treatment options for FEP patients.

Methods

The Helsinki Early Psychosis Study recruited FEP patients (aged 18 to 40 years old) who were having their first treatment of psychosis in the catchment area of the Helsinki University Hospital and the psychiatric services of Helsinki City in the time period from December 2010 to June 2016. The diagnoses of psychotic disorders were later verified using the Structured Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV, Research Version, as well as a review of all medical records. Substance-induced psychotic disorders and psychotic disorders due to a general medical condition were excluded. Baseline assessment was conducted as soon as the patient had entered treatment and was able to give informed consent according to the treating personnel. Follow ups were conducted at 2 months after baseline.

Data was gathered on symptoms, sociodemographic factors, functioning, overall health, aspects of treatment and medication. Duration of untreated psychosis was determined as accurately as possible with the help of patient records and diagnostic interview. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by PSQ (Patient satisfaction questionnaire) developed by Swedish researchers for their early intervention program for first episode psychosis patients. The questionnaire contains ten questions about different aspects of the patients’ care and was part of the 2-month follow-up protocol.

Results

97 patients were recruited in the study. Out of those patients, 72 patients participated in the 2-month follow up and 51 filled out the PSC questionnaire. The results of the PSQ were translated into a dichotomist scale of “satisfied” (very or rather satisfied) or “not satisfied” (neither satisfied nor dissatisfied; rather or very dissatisfied). Interestingly, DUP was not associated with higher or lower satisfaction with care unlike in other studies. Conversely, higher SOFAS score at the 2-month follow up was associated with better treatment satisfaction. Especially patients who felt they had been able to influence their care, who felt that the sessions with the psychiatric staff been helpful, and who were satisfied with the concern and understanding the psychiatric staff had shown had significantly higher SOFAS than those who were not satisfied with these aspects of care, whereas e.g. attitudes regarding medication were not significantly associated with SOFAS. A summary score of the PSQ correlated positively with the 2 month SOFAS scores (Spearman rho 0.40, p=0.007).

Discussion

Unlike in many other studies, longer DUP was not associated with poorer PSC. Instead, satisfaction with qualitative aspects of treatment contact and being able to influence treatment decisions were associated with better functioning. This suggest that the staff-patient relationship and empowering patients in treatment decisions are important in the treatment of FEP.