The Attitudes Towards and Enactment of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Principles: Discrepancies and Correlates

Background: Previous literature suggests that attitudes have critical effects on recovery outcomes. Yet mental health professionals' attitudes towards psychiatric rehabilitation principles (PRP) have not been fully addressed. Whether the professionals could act in accordance with attitudes has also not been examined. Aims: This study explored how hospital professionals in Taiwan perceived PRP, and whether there were discrepancies between attitudes towards and enactment of PRP. Also, the correlates of attitudes and enactment were examined. Methods: Survey questionnaires were sent to hospitals in Taiwan, and yielded a valid sample of 743 subjects, with a 23.48% return rate. The potential correlates included five groups of variables: demographic, professional background, training experience, and external and internal structure of hospital. Results: The factor analyses revealed nine factors of PRP, which partly confirmed Cnaan et al.'s findings (1990), and added recovery components. Hospital professionals held favorable attitudes toward and enacted more on recovery and strengths perspectives, yet less on social change, commitment from staff, and using environmental resources. The discrepancies between attitudes and enactment were mainly on macro related principles. Attitudes and hospital emphasis on psychiatric rehabilitation (PR) in discharge plans were the two most important correlates of enactment. Conclusions: Doctors are the training target group for enhancing favorable attitudes and enactment. Continuous advocacies on structural changes for increasing PR resources, and hospital emphasis on PR in treatment approach are needed.