When the emphasis in psychiatric care shifts to outpatient care and hospitalization becomes short-term; various individual alternatives are needed to support patients' coping at home and in open care. Post-ward outpatient services (PWOS) are available, but their role and significance in the psychiatric care system still need to be studied. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the benefits of PWOS in adult psychiatric care. A phenomenographic approach was used. The data were gathered by interviewing patients and personnel in PWOS. As a result of the data analysis the four main categories were formulated: patient groups that benefit from PWOS; impacts to the patient; impacts to the nurses' work, and challenges for cooperation with community care. The findings show that seven different patient groups received care in PWOS. PWOS led the patient to manage at home and in community care and gave the nurses new kind of challenges and responsibility. Good cooperation with other agencies help patient to cope in community care.
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