Monitoring weight and blood glucose in in-patients: how helpful is a protocol?

Aims and Method Following a survey in 2001, a protocol for monitoring weight and blood glucose of psychiatric in-patients receiving antipsychotic drugs was developed. The effect of this protocol was investigated by comparing 61 admissions in 2004 with the 2001 in-patients. Results No significant improvement in recording of admission weight or blood glucose was observed. Ongoing monitoring of weight after admission was significantly more common. For only 29% of patients studied in 2004 was there complete adherence to the protocol. Clinical Implications In spite of the availability of a protocol and education, the results suggest that monitoring of weight and blood glucose is still haphazard for psychiatric in-patients. The implications for out-patient monitoring are discussed.