Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe factors which are effective in dealing with community re-integration care for prolonged long-stay patients in a psychiatric hospital. Subjects were six nurses who worked in a hospital where a modified therapeutic community in Japan was successfully implemented. Data was collected through interviews using semi- structured questionnaires which were analyzed inductively. Results showed that 12 factors were extracted from 221 codes. 1) The top leader who cooperated with staffs and patients to promote community re-integration care. 2) Nurses' motivation and values changed. 3) Nurses reflected on the basis of psycho-dynamics. 4) Patients showed their potential abilities. 5) Family members' attitudes toward patients changed. 6) Peoples' behavior in the community changed. 7) They had systems in order to promote community re-integration directly. 8) They had systems in order to promote community re-integration indirectly. 9) They had systems in order to promote the growth of the care team. 10) Nurses brought out positive and healthy responses from patients and supported everyone. 11) Nurses took care of family members. 12) Nurses explored the way of living after discharge from the hospital with patients, family members and other staffs. Above all, the study showed that the most important factor was nurses' change in motivation and values which somehow was associated with patients' display of their potential abilities.
