Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
BackgroundInvoluntary admission is a common practice globally. Previous international studies reported that patients experienced high levels of coercion, threats and a range of negative emotions. Little is known about the patients’ experience in South Africa. The aim of this study was to describe th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1113821/full |
| _version_ | 1811158994088099840 |
|---|---|
| author | Zinhle Shozi Shamima Saloojee Sibongile Mashaphu |
| author_facet | Zinhle Shozi Shamima Saloojee Sibongile Mashaphu |
| author_sort | Zinhle Shozi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundInvoluntary admission is a common practice globally. Previous international studies reported that patients experienced high levels of coercion, threats and a range of negative emotions. Little is known about the patients’ experience in South Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the patient’s experiences of involuntary admission at two psychiatric hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive quantitative study of patients admitted involuntarily was conducted. Demographic information was extracted from clinical records and interviews were conducted with consenting participants at discharge. The MacArthur Perceived Coercion Scale, the MacArthur Negative Pressures Scale, and the MacArthur Procedural Justice Scale, of the MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (short form) were utilized to describe participants’ experiences.ResultsThis study comprised 131 participants. The response rate was 95.6%. Most participants (n = 96; 73%) experienced high levels of coercion and threats (n = 110; 84%) on admission. About half (n = 61; 46.6%) reported that they felt unheard. Participants reported feeling sad (n = 68; 52%), angry (n = 54; 41.2%), and confused (n = 56; 42.7%). There was a significant association between good insight and a feeling of relief (p = 0.001), and between poor insight and feelings of anger (p = 0.041).ConclusionThe findings of this study confirm that most patients who were admitted involuntarily experienced high levels of coercion, threats, and exclusion from the decision-making process. Patient involvement and control of the decision-making process must be facilitated to improve clinical and overall health outcomes. The need for involuntary admission must justify the means. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:33:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98a65144430e4203974fe56d53f5cb3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:33:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-98a65144430e4203974fe56d53f5cb3d2023-03-07T04:43:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-03-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.11138211113821Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaZinhle ShoziShamima SaloojeeSibongile MashaphuBackgroundInvoluntary admission is a common practice globally. Previous international studies reported that patients experienced high levels of coercion, threats and a range of negative emotions. Little is known about the patients’ experience in South Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the patient’s experiences of involuntary admission at two psychiatric hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive quantitative study of patients admitted involuntarily was conducted. Demographic information was extracted from clinical records and interviews were conducted with consenting participants at discharge. The MacArthur Perceived Coercion Scale, the MacArthur Negative Pressures Scale, and the MacArthur Procedural Justice Scale, of the MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (short form) were utilized to describe participants’ experiences.ResultsThis study comprised 131 participants. The response rate was 95.6%. Most participants (n = 96; 73%) experienced high levels of coercion and threats (n = 110; 84%) on admission. About half (n = 61; 46.6%) reported that they felt unheard. Participants reported feeling sad (n = 68; 52%), angry (n = 54; 41.2%), and confused (n = 56; 42.7%). There was a significant association between good insight and a feeling of relief (p = 0.001), and between poor insight and feelings of anger (p = 0.041).ConclusionThe findings of this study confirm that most patients who were admitted involuntarily experienced high levels of coercion, threats, and exclusion from the decision-making process. Patient involvement and control of the decision-making process must be facilitated to improve clinical and overall health outcomes. The need for involuntary admission must justify the means.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1113821/fullinvoluntaryadmission experiencecoercionpsychiatrySouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Zinhle Shozi Shamima Saloojee Sibongile Mashaphu Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Frontiers in Psychiatry involuntary admission experience coercion psychiatry South Africa |
| title | Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full | Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_short | Experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_sort | experiences of coercion amongst involuntary mental health care users in kwazulu natal south africa |
| topic | involuntary admission experience coercion psychiatry South Africa |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1113821/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zinhleshozi experiencesofcoercionamongstinvoluntarymentalhealthcareusersinkwazulunatalsouthafrica AT shamimasaloojee experiencesofcoercionamongstinvoluntarymentalhealthcareusersinkwazulunatalsouthafrica AT sibongilemashaphu experiencesofcoercionamongstinvoluntarymentalhealthcareusersinkwazulunatalsouthafrica |