Abstract
Collaborative care planning (CCP) was defined as MHS users and health professionals working together to decide care plans in a relationship that recognises equality, and encourages the shared power to decide, in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect for each others' contribution.This descriptive study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to address the following objectives.
Objectives:
• To find out the conceptual understanding of the meaning of the term CCP.
• To determine the role of MHS users in the decision-making process.
• To determine whether the social environment is conducive to CCP.
Methods and data collection: A quantitative approach was used in which a convenience population of 72 respondents (55 mental health service users and 17 health professionals) in day care units, completed questionnaires Approval was obtained from the local District Ethics Committee. The questionnaire had three areas: meaning of the term CCP, decision-making and social environment. A simple descriptive statistical analysis showed that 6% of the MHS users were aware of the term CCP. Eighty per cent of the respondents indicated a desire to be involved in decision making about their care whilst 15% did not. Forty-two per cent of MHS users thought seeing their records the most important aspect of care.
The qualitative approach used a 30-60 minute semi-structured interview format utilising a critical incident technique. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 10 MHS users discharged from hospital for between 6 months and 3 years. Five health professionals were interviewed without the use of the critical incident technique. Five themes emerged following critical analysis of 'critical happenings'. These were: 'classification of incidents', 'involvement and non-involvement', 'imbalance of power', 'contextual factors' and the 'tone of the incidents'
Conclusions:
There is no universal understanding of the term collaborative care planning between users and health professionals. In reality, within the clinical context, users were not actively involved in deciding care plans with health professionals
Implication for practice: Mental health professionals may involve users as equal partners in the planning and delivery of care.
| Date of Award | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Colin Torrance (Supervisor) |