Pilot Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Children and Adolescents in Child Psychiatric Department of Imam Hossein Hospital

The aim of this study was to pilot implementation of the code of conduct for the children and adolescents in a child and adolescent psychiatric center. The present quasi-experimental and prospective study was carried out in child psychiatric ward and clinic of Imam Hossien Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in two six-month phases. The first phase included the research executive-educational strategy and during the second phase the code of conduct for the children and adolescents was implemented in the psychiatric ward and clinic. The subjects were parents of children referred to child psychiatry clinic and ward. The used questionnaire was extracted from the code of conduct for the children/ adolescents and completed by the parents. Pretest questionnaires were filled out in the first phase and prior to any intervention, and posttest questionnaires after pilot implementation of the guideline. The number of pretest (and posttest) subjects in the ward and clinic were 33 (24) and 60 (56), respectively. The data was analyzed using Chi-square and dependent and independent t-tests. There was significant difference between pretest and posttest scores of the subjects referred to psychiatric ward in receiving instructive and informative booklets (p<0.001), but there was no change in the level of satisfaction for the physical conditions and facilities of the ward. In the clinic, the level of satisfaction of clients with the staffs communication behavior (p<0.01), and with the clinic conditions and facilities (p<0.001) increased in the posttest compared to the pretest. Some simple changes such as improving the physical conditions and facilities, and information services could increase the clients’ satisfaction. Nonetheless, changes like modifying the staff behavior, and their interaction and communication with the clients require more time, training, practice, and rehearsal.