Analysing length of stay disparities in inpatient forensic psychiatric care: a cross-sectional study in Czechia

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00023752%3A_____%2F25%3A43921555" target="_blank" >RIV/00023752:_____/25:43921555 - isvavai.cz</a>

Nalezeny alternativní kódy

RIV/00216208:11110/25:10499056 RIV/00216208:11120/25:43928577 RIV/00064165:_____/25:10499056

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13033-025-00675-9" target="_blank" >https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13033-025-00675-9</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13033-025-00675-9" target="_blank" >10.1186/s13033-025-00675-9</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Analysing length of stay disparities in inpatient forensic psychiatric care: a cross-sectional study in Czechia

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Background Length of stay (LoS) is a critical parameter of inpatient forensic treatment functioning. Inpatient forensic LoS in Czechia varies across hospitals with the number of patients per 100,000 inhabitants and the treatment duration. We aimed to analyse these inter-hospital differences and provide relevant sociodemographic and treatment-related data. Methods We collected descriptive parameters from 841 forensic inpatients from 13 hospitals in Czechia, with follow-up data collection after 6 months (N = 800). Data from eight hospitals with &gt; 50 patients (N = 765) were entered into linear regression analyses with subsequent resampling to identify differences in LoS associated with index offence, diagnosis, and treatment type, thereby highlighting interhospital variations. Results The cohort comprised predominantly males (mean age, 41.84 years; standard deviation [SD] 3.63) with extended mental health histories; the mean main diagnosis length was 13.2 years (SD 12.18). Most inmates committed violent offences, with psychotic, substance use, or paraphilic disorders predominating. Family contact remained common despite the patients&apos; poor socioeconomic status. The mean LoS was 1,327.58 (SD 1642.41) days. We observed significant differences in LoS among patients from the same diagnostic group. Within the whole system, patients with substance abuse disorders, psychotic disorders, and intellectual disabilities stayed for 760, 1490, and 2441 days, respectively. Violent index offences increased LoS in most hospitals, as did sexual offences, but &quot;other&quot; minor criminal offences (non-violent, non-sexual) were associated with increased LoS only in some hospitals. Sex offender treatment significantly affected LoS in some hospitals, while enrolment into substance use programmes shortened it. Conclusions Our study revealed significant inter-hospital variations in LoS associated with index offences, diagnoses, or treatment programs, which could be related to previously unrecognised institutional factors. Regular evaluation of treatment outcomes and implementation of standardised guidelines across the entire system is necessary to balance these differences. The insights provided into inpatient treatment in Czechia can be used to guide policy and practice improvements, enhancing the quality of forensic psychiatric care and ensuring the rights and well-being of the patients. The study addressed the knowledge gap existing in the available literature regarding previously unrecognised factors influencing the LoS at the system &quot;mezzo&quot; level.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Analysing length of stay disparities in inpatient forensic psychiatric care: a cross-sectional study in Czechia

Popis výsledku anglicky

Background Length of stay (LoS) is a critical parameter of inpatient forensic treatment functioning. Inpatient forensic LoS in Czechia varies across hospitals with the number of patients per 100,000 inhabitants and the treatment duration. We aimed to analyse these inter-hospital differences and provide relevant sociodemographic and treatment-related data. Methods We collected descriptive parameters from 841 forensic inpatients from 13 hospitals in Czechia, with follow-up data collection after 6 months (N = 800). Data from eight hospitals with &gt; 50 patients (N = 765) were entered into linear regression analyses with subsequent resampling to identify differences in LoS associated with index offence, diagnosis, and treatment type, thereby highlighting interhospital variations. Results The cohort comprised predominantly males (mean age, 41.84 years; standard deviation [SD] 3.63) with extended mental health histories; the mean main diagnosis length was 13.2 years (SD 12.18). Most inmates committed violent offences, with psychotic, substance use, or paraphilic disorders predominating. Family contact remained common despite the patients&apos; poor socioeconomic status. The mean LoS was 1,327.58 (SD 1642.41) days. We observed significant differences in LoS among patients from the same diagnostic group. Within the whole system, patients with substance abuse disorders, psychotic disorders, and intellectual disabilities stayed for 760, 1490, and 2441 days, respectively. Violent index offences increased LoS in most hospitals, as did sexual offences, but &quot;other&quot; minor criminal offences (non-violent, non-sexual) were associated with increased LoS only in some hospitals. Sex offender treatment significantly affected LoS in some hospitals, while enrolment into substance use programmes shortened it. Conclusions Our study revealed significant inter-hospital variations in LoS associated with index offences, diagnoses, or treatment programs, which could be related to previously unrecognised institutional factors. Regular evaluation of treatment outcomes and implementation of standardised guidelines across the entire system is necessary to balance these differences. The insights provided into inpatient treatment in Czechia can be used to guide policy and practice improvements, enhancing the quality of forensic psychiatric care and ensuring the rights and well-being of the patients. The study addressed the knowledge gap existing in the available literature regarding previously unrecognised factors influencing the LoS at the system &quot;mezzo&quot; level.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

30215 - Psychiatry

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

International Journal of Mental Health Systems

ISSN

1752-4458

e-ISSN

1752-4458

Svazek periodika

19

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

"Article Number 19"

Stát vydavatele periodika

GB - Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

Počet stran výsledku

15

Strana od-do

1-15

Kód UT WoS článku

001508332800001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105008001880