ABSTRACT
Background: Deinstitutionalization has been a social movement in Taiwan since 1984. This practice emphasizes quality of life as an important outcome in the treatment of patients with chronic mental illness.
Purpose: This study compares the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia between daycare and homecare settings in Taiwan.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparison design was used. A convenience sample of 70 participants was drawn from daycare (n = 45) and homecare (n = 25) settings. Three structured questionnaires, a personal characteristics questionnaire, the Quality of Life Scale for Psychiatric Patients, and the Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale, were used to collect personal characteristics, quality of life, and psychopathological status information on participants.
Results: Compared with homecare participants, daycare participants had higher quality of life in several domains, more work opportunities, and less severe positive symptoms.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Providing work opportunities and proper psychopathology care to patients with schizophrenia may further enhance their quality of life. Practitioners should encourage people with chronic schizophrenia to receive regular care in either a daycare setting or a homecare setting.