Evaluation of the Platform Model for Staffing in Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Clinics

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to evaluate the so-called platform model and its suitability to determine staffing in hospitals for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy.

Detailed Description
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The aim of the study is to test the suitability of a structural model (so-called platform model) developed by a working group of various scientific societies and professional associations for staffing in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. For this purpose, in three steps (1.) the four treatment clusters developed in the platform model will be quantified and empirically validated on the basis of the therapeutic services provided in health care practice; (2.) the current staffing for the four treatment clusters will be described (as-is analysis); and (3.) prototypical therapy plans will be developed as a basis for estimating the target staffing requirements. On this basis, a target staffing estimate will be made for all professional groups. For the study, a total of 80 psychosomatic clinics from Germany will be randomly selected, belonging in equal parts to the groups of psychosomatic university clinics, psychosomatic specialist hospitals, and psychosomatic departments in somatic or in psychiatric hospitals. In addition, 20 day clinics are included. In these clinics, the structural framework conditions including staffing will be surveyed and the routine documentation of therapy units will be evaluated by cluster analysis in order to empirically validate the presumed treatment clusters and to describe the necessary staffing requirements. The empirical examination and validation of the platform model, including the four assumed treatment clusters, has the potential to positively influence care practice in the long term by adjusting staffing levels in psychosomatic clinics to actual care requirements.

Official Title
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Evaluation of the Suitability of the Platform Model as an Instrument for Staffing in Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Clinics (EPPIK) - Subproject Psychosomatics

Conditions
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Psychosomatic Medicine

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: no intervention, purely observational


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria for Clinics: belong to the predefined nationwide population of psychosomatic specialist clinics and departments randomly selected for inclusion in the study, the clinic management (head physician or comparable) agrees to participation in the study possibility of electronic recording of the qualified therapy units for all treating professional groups. Inclusion Criteria for Patients: patient treated in one of the selected clinics on the corresponding ward or day clinic at least 18 years old Exclusion Criteria: none

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Departments for Psychosomatic Medicine at University Clinics<br>no study interventions, observational group | Other: no intervention, purely observational<br>* There will be no interventions. The study is purely observational and investigates differences in naturally occuring treatments at these four types of departments for Psychosomatic Medicine.<br>|
| Clinics specialized in Psychosomatic Medicine<br>no study interventions, observational group | Other: no intervention, purely observational<br>* There will be no interventions. The study is purely observational and investigates differences in naturally occuring treatments at these four types of departments for Psychosomatic Medicine.<br>|
| Departments for Psychosomatic Medicine at general hospitals<br>no study interventions, observational group | Other: no intervention, purely observational<br>* There will be no interventions. The study is purely observational and investigates differences in naturally occuring treatments at these four types of departments for Psychosomatic Medicine.<br>|
| Departments for Psychosomatic Medicine at psychiatric hospitals<br>no study interventions, observational group | Other: no intervention, purely observational<br>* There will be no interventions. The study is purely observational and investigates differences in naturally occuring treatments at these four types of departments for Psychosomatic Medicine.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week one of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week two of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week three of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week four of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week five of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week six of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week seven of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 
| Administered Treatments | units of psychotherapeutic treatment administered to each patient by physicians, psychologists, nurses, art therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists | Week eight of treatment: assessment of administered treatment units | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HONOS - Health of the Nation Outcome Scales | measure of severity of mental illness | administered once per patient at week one of treatment |