Being held through pain: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of experiences of receiving a peer support intervention for family members of individuals with mental illness

Abstract Objective Pain self-management information and support, delivered by peers, are a potentially useful approach to help patients who are struggling to manage their chronic pain. Before implementation into clinical settings, it is important to understand factors that may influence the success of implementation. The purpose of this study was to explore facilitators and barriers to implementation of peer support for chronic pain. Design Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians who provide care to patients with chronic pain, regarding their perceptions of the proposed peer support intervention. Setting A single US Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Subjects Using maximum variation sampling, 15 providers were interviewed (11 women, four men). Clinicians’ disciplines included primary care, physical therapy, nursing, clinical psychology, social work, and pharmacy. Results Findings indicated that clinicians 1) had an overall positive perception of the intervention; 2) had specific intervention outcomes they wanted for patients; 3) anticipated that the intervention could positively influence their role; 4) anticipated barriers to intervention participation and maintenance; and 5) had concerns regarding peer coach selection. Findings are discussed in the context of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Conclusions Understanding clinician perceptions of a peer support intervention is critical for successful implementation. The feedback collected in this study will facilitate implementation of the intervention on a broader scale, allowing more patients to benefit.

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A child’s perspective of bidirectional impacts of mental illness in families: “It’s like a cold it goes from one of us to the next”

Clinical Nursing Studies ◽

10.5430/cns.v7n2p8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Michael Frederick Naughton

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Initial Phase ◽

Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Mental Health Issue ◽

Family Interactions ◽

Children And Families ◽

Social Challenges ◽

School Issues ◽

Children’S Accounts

Objective: Investigations into the influence of mental illness in families concentrates on how a parent’s mental illness has an effect on their child, but we now know over two thirds of children with a mental health issue also have a parent with a mental illness. This study examines experiences of these children.Methods: Thirty-eight children were interviewed, including two sibling groups. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis with a number of themes identified.Results: It was clear from children’s accounts that family life presents some unique challenges because of co-existing mental illness. These included social challenges; school issues; and family interactions. Children also postulated ideas on the support that they considered helpful for comparable children and families. The latter included coping strategies, experiences of professionals and support that they would have liked.Conclusions: The voices of these children indicate that interventions should not be considered in isolation and that it is important to focus on bidirectional influences of mental illness. Understanding the perceptions and interpreted realities of children in these families will facilitate more successful outcomes for the whole family. Providing a family-focused, bidirectional approach, is an important initial phase in helping children manage where mental illness is a ubiquitous feature for multiple family members.

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