A 3-year experience of an Australian short-stay Psychiatric, Alcohol and Non-prescription Drug Assessment Unit: unit activity and the patient experience.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Psychiatric, Alcohol and Non-Prescription Drug Assessment (PANDA) Unit was opened at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney in 2020 to provide short-stay medical monitoring and care for people presenting to the emergency department with alcohol or other drug intoxication or behavioural disturbance with co-existing general medical, drug and alcohol and/or mental health issues. The aim of this study was to describe the activity of the PANDA Unit across the first 3 years of operation and explore patient experience.

Methods

A mixed methods design was used. A retrospective record review (2020-2023) captured patient demographics, admission characteristics and discharge disposition. Brief, structured interviews were conducted with PANDA patients to explore their admission expe

SUBMITTER: Carland JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12772552 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature