# Feasibility and efficacy of a psychological graded early warning and intervention system for hospitalised patients in a general hospital

## TL;DR

This study tested a system to identify and help hospitalized patients with psychological issues, showing it is feasible and effective.

## Contribution

A graded psychological early warning and intervention system was developed and evaluated in a general hospital setting.

## Key findings

- Most patients scored at the recommendation or intervention level, indicating significant psychological needs.
- Liaison consultation interventions improved psychosomatic health scores for higher-grade patients.
- The system was feasible to implement and showed positive outcomes in patient care.

## Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility and effect of a psychological graded early warning and intervention system for hospitalised patients in a general hospital.

The psychological screening of patients within 48 h of hospitalisation was conducted using the Union Physio-Psycho-Social Assessment Questionnaire (UPPSAQ), the Life Events Scale (LES), the Hospitalized Patients’ Expectations for Treatment Scale-patient version (HOPE-P), and the Patient–Doctor-Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ). Based on the obtained results, the warning level was divided into a recommendation level, an intervention level and a report level, after which a liaison consultation-based psychiatric intervention was administered. Patients who completed the assessments were invited for retest after 3 months.

A total of 1757 patients completed the psychological assessment upon admission, and 338 of them completed the follow-up psychological assessment after three months. Only 4 patients (1.2%) scored at the normal level, 199 patients (58.9%) scored at the recommendation level (grade = 1), 125 patients (37.0%) scored at the intervention level (grade = 2), and 10 patients (3.0%) scored at the report level (grade = 3). The consultation rate was 7.5% for grade 1, 19.2% for grade 2, and 70% for grade 3. After the liaison consultation intervention, the total UPPSAQ score at grades 2 and 3 significantly improved (t = −2.110, p = 0.037), the HOPE-P score was lower than that at admission (t = 0.478, p < 0.001), and no significant changes were noted in the PDRQ or LES scores (p > 0.05).

It is feasible to conduct comprehensive psychological screenings of patients hospitalised in general hospitals to implement early warning-based graded interventions. Implementing the liaison consultation intervention according to the graded early warning system can improve the psychosomatic health of patients.

http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300075262.