Combined somatic and psychiatric care--effects on personnel treating drug addicts with infectious diseases.

Infectious disease care, psychiatric care of drug addicts, and social care were combined in a ward for drug addicts with infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on the personnel (n = 22). One ward with infectious disease care of HIV and AIDS patients (n = 24) and another with nonsomatic care of drug addicts (n = 18) were selected to make comparisons possible. The questionnaire concerned psychosocial work environment and health. The personnel at the new ward also participated in a semistructured interview. The personnel at the special ward experienced a significantly higher degree of emotional exhaustion and lack of ability to concentrate than the comparison groups. They also reported a higher degree of lack of clarity, more job strain, and more difficulties due to demands from patients. The combined care is probably associated with heavier psychological burdens than other forms of care. In spite of this, the personnel experienced their work as meaningful and mentally stimulating.