Patients’ Experiences Regarding the Nursing Care of Dual Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study

Studies have shown that the needs of patients with dual diagnosis are complex, and that professional nurses providing effective nursing care to them require specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes. However, research on the experiences of patients diagnosed with dual diagnosis regarding nursing care is limited, and their experiences are unknown in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of patients diagnosed with dual diagnosis regarding the nursing care they receive in psychiatric hospitals in Ghana.

An exploratory-descriptive qualitative research design was used to conduct this study. Sixteen participants with dual diagnoses were recruited for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select potential participants. Individual, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the patients. The researcher and co-coder independently used thematic analysis to analyse the data.

Three main themes emerged, namely (1) patients’ experiences of nursing care rendered at psychiatric units, (2) challenges experienced by patients diagnosed with dual diagnosis, and (3) recommendations for improving care of patients diagnosed with dual diagnosis.

The findings stress the dual reality of psychiatric nursing care for patients with dual diagnosis, marked by both positive experiences of holistic, supportive interventions and negative experiences shaped by stigma, structural barriers, and lack of collaboration. The study highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms, including capacity building for staff, infrastructural improvements, patient-centred practices, and integration of recovery-oriented models. By addressing these gaps, psychiatric nursing care could shift closer to a model that fully respects the dignity, autonomy, and holistic needs of individuals with dual diagnosis, thereby enhancing both clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Patients with dual diagnosis experience both supportive, holistic nursing care and systemic challenges in psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. Positive therapeutic engagement fosters recovery, yet negative attitudes, limited involvement, and poor infrastructure hinder recovery. Integrating clinical competence, empathy, patient autonomy, and adequate environments is vital for achieving sustainable, patient-centred rehabilitation outcomes.