The evaluation of quality characteristics of the mental health services provided at the General Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic of the Eginition Hospital.

Abstract

his study aims to assess the quality characteristics of mental health services provided at the General Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic of the 1st Department of Psychiatry at Eginitio Hospital, with the objective of monitoring and improving care. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on clinical records from 1,146 patients. From this total, a stratified random sample of 265 patients was selected and assessed using the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (VSSS). Among the 1,146 patients, 52% were female. The most represented age group was 50-59 years. Additionally, 56% were unmarried, 47% were unemployed, and 42% lived with their parental family. Psychotic disorders were the most common diagnosis (38%). On average, patients attended three consultations annually, while 26% received more than four sessions per year. Increased visit frequency was significantly associated with both age (p = 0.001) and psychiatric diagnosis (p < 0.001). Regarding satisfaction, 84.2% of patients reported high satisfaction with services. Older age was positively associated with greater satisfaction levels (p < 0.001). Concerning suggestions for service improvement, 28.7% of patients expressed a desire for access to psychotherapy, 25.3% requested more assistance in obtaining social benefits, and 20.8% supported the introduction of home treatment services. These findings align with previous studies in Greece, confirming slightly higher service use by women and a predominance of psychotic spectrum disorders. While the average follow-up interval was 120 days, medically necessary cases were monitored more frequently (30-90 days). Patient satisfaction was generally high, and older individuals tended to report greater contentment. Reported needs for service enhancement centered on increased access to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions, along with the development of home-based care options.