Clinical outcome of patients with self-inflicted burns.

Introduction: Patients with self-inflicted burns (SIB) are thought to have a longer length of stay compared to patients with accidental burns. However, other predictors for a longer length of stay are often not taken into account, e.g.

[The Health of Nation Outcome Scale as clinical outcome indicator in elderly psychiatry].

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales65+(HoNOS65+) seems to be a useful instrument for effect measuring in elderly psychiatry. The instrument is implemented as an outcome measure within a psychiatric unit for older persons. From 244 patients a repeated assessment is completed: at the start of the treatment and at discharge.

[Implementation of the HoNOS65+].

Background: In the last few years mental healthcare has had to become increasingly accountable to health insurance companies, the government and patient groups with regard to the efficacy, appropriateness and patient-friendliness of the care provided. Routine outcome assessment, based on various measuring instruments, is likely to become more and more frequent in the years to come.

Aim: To assess whether the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for elderly people (HoNOS65+) can be successfully implemented within a psychiatric unit for older persons, whether the instrument is suitable for use in clinical practice and whether it provides an adequate picture of the older population in general.