[The nursing-to-patient ratio in psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine (PPR-PP) - basic nursing staff necessities in the treatment of adults]

[Staffing level: Survey among psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic institutions in Germany]

Staffing level: Survey among psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic institutions in Germany Objectives: To establish the first nationwide hospital survey to assess the level of staffing for inpatient and daycare treatment in psychosomatic hospitals and specialist departments in Germany.

METHODS

Using a standardized written hospital survey from the Deutsches Krankenhausinstitut (DKI), we invited a total of 218 psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic hospitals and specialist departments to participate. The participation rate of the institutions was 35%.

RESULTS

In the overall sample, one psychotherapist (physician/clinical psychologist) was responsible for treating a median of 3.9 beds/patients (interquartile range 3.1-5.1) and one nurse a median of 2.9 beds/patients (interquartile range 2.3-3.9). There were significant differences for the nurse-patient ratio depending on the organizational size of the institution. To ensure quality treatment, professional experts saw increased staffing needs of about 12-17% across both professions. For the professional groups of specialist therapists and social workers, broad variances were observed for the therapist-patient ratio in the overall sample.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides an important and relevant data basis for the further discussion to determine mandatory minimal staffing levels in German psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic institutions.