Attendance in psychiatric ward: healthcare professionals’ conceptions

Abstract This study intended to understand the psychiatric ward professionals’ conceptions concerning the organization of the provided service and therapeutics, with respect to the approach and distancing from the Psychiatric Reform ideals. The qualitative approach was adopted and the data was processed by using the Thematic Content Analysis. The data collection was performed by applying an open questionnaire, approaching themes related to the treatment, planning and evaluation of the actions, participation of the user in his/her treatment, continuity of the assistance after the admission period and professionals’ perception about the psychiatric ward. The sample comprised seven professionals from the nursing, psychology, social service, occupational area and psychiatry areas. According to the results, the professionals have incorporated concepts resulting from the psychiatric reform; however, they find impasses, once the care is still fragmented and there are underused spaces for the team communication. With this respect, it would be important to rethink the multiprofessional team work optimization ways in order to provide an integral care.