Development of a Community Nursing Guideline for Integrated Community-Based Care and Rehabilitation of Psychiatric Patients in the Primary Health Care System.

Abstract

     This action research aimed to develop and evaluate a nursing care guideline for the rehabilitation of patients with mental illness through an integrated community-based approach within the primary healthcare system. The study participants included key stakeholders in the community: professional nurses, public health officers, village health volunteers, community leaders, patients with mental illness, and caregivers, with a total of 42 participants. The study was conducted in two phases: Phase 1 involved situational analysis and guideline development, and Phase 2 involved implementation and evaluation of the developed guideline. Research instruments included semi-structured interviews, participation assessment forms, and satisfaction questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

     The results indicated that the developed guideline consisted of comprehensive patient assessment, individualized care planning, home visits, continuous follow-up, and family and community participation. After implementation, patients showed significantly improved scores in self-care, medication adherence, and relapse prevention (p < 0.001). Community participation was at a high level, and overall satisfaction with the guideline was rated as high.