Evaluating Service Recipient Outcomes in Psychiatric Residential Services in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: The service output and outcomes of psychiatric residential services in Hong Kong have been increasingly reported; however, there was still a gap concerning the factors and interaction effects between service recipients and facility factors on recipient outcomes. Method: 757 residents in 11 halfway houses and 2 long-stay care homes were assessed by social workers during routine service delivery. Results: The service recipients’ functioning was positively associated with working under a supported employment service, having finished secondary school education, having an upward vocational mobility in the past 6 months, having insight of one’s illness, and having less frequent psychiatric and medical follow-ups. Multilevel analysis revealed significant interaction effects between service recipient factors and facility factors on functioning and recipients’ perception of quality of life. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the benefit of integrating research into practice for effective social work and of using multilevel analysis for data with hierarchical structure.