scholarly journals Qualitative Interviews Exploring the Views of Healthcare Professionals Working in a Mental Health Trust in England on Pharmacists as Future Approved Clinicians

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balazs Adam ◽  
Richard Keers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Conventional Models ◽  
Health Trust

Abstract BackgroundThe Mental Health Act 1983 was amended in 2007 introducing the role of the Approved Clinician (AC) which could be assumed by individuals from several professional groups. Although the role of mental health pharmacists have undergone significant transformation over the past few decades, pharmacists remain ineligible to train and practise as an AC. There is a paucity of research on non-medical ACs and there are currently no known studies exploring the potential of mental health pharmacists to be considered for the role of AC in future.AimThis qualitative research explored the views and attitudes of a range of healthcare professionals towards the role of the mental health pharmacist, and whether they could and/or should be enabled, via a legislative change, to become ACs in the future.MethodRecruitment based on systematic purposive sampling principles took place at one mental health trust in England. Six pharmacists, five medical ACs and two experienced mental health nurses participated in digitally audio-recorded semi-structured interviews between June-November 2020. The recordings were transcribed verbatim before being inductively coded and thematically analysed.ResultsNotwithstanding the wide recognition among participants of several key skills possessed by mental health pharmacists, various obstacles were also identified to their becoming ACs in future, including prevalent conventional models of pharmacy services delivery restricting adequate patient access, as well as insufficient training opportunities to acquire advanced clinical skills particularly in diagnosis and assessment. Participants also highlighted wider concerns with current uptake of the non-medical AC role which could influence the success of pharmacists’ involvement, including legislative restrictions and a lack of perceived training support.ConclusionChanges to the skill mix within multidisciplinary mental health teams as well as to the training of staff may be required to equip pharmacists with essential skills to be able to transition towards the AC role. Further research is required to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing the clinical development and enhanced utilisation of highly specialised mental health pharmacists across services.

scholarly journals Exploration of the views of healthcare professionals working in a mental health trust in England on pharmacists as future approved clinicians: early findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i24-i24
Author(s):  
B Adam ◽  
R N Keers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Health Trust ◽  
Views Of Healthcare Professionals

Abstract Introduction The 2007 amendment to the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 enabled various non-medical professionals to now qualify as approved clinicians (ACs); these included social workers, mental health and learning disability nurses, clinical psychologists and occupational therapists. [1–2] As ACs, these professionals can take on roles of clinical leadership whilst assuming responsibility for patients under the Act. Although mental health pharmacists have recognised specialist clinical roles and regularly work alongside these professionals in caring for patients, they are not presently permitted to practise as ACs. Aim This study sets out to investigate the views of healthcare professionals working in a mental health trust in England on this hitherto unexplored group of the mental health workforce as potential ACs. Methods Upon obtaining ethics approval, pharmacists, ACs and other experienced mental health professionals working in one mental health trust in England were approached via internal trust email to take part in a digitally audio recorded semi-structured interview to explore their views on pharmacists as potential ACs in future. A thematic analysis is being performed on the entire set of transcripts and an additional sentiment analysis will be applied to specific parts of the dataset. Results A total of 11 interviews were completed with 6 pharmacists, 4 medical ACs and 1 ‘other’ mental health professional thus far, with recruitment ongoing. Emerging themes included wide recognition among participants of highly valued key skills of pharmacists within mental health services provision, for instance their ability to access and appraise specialist literature as well as their analytical skills to apply expert knowledge to real-life cases. Participants identified unique challenges to pharmacists potentially becoming ACs in future, namely the traditional organisational structures whereby pharmacists are line managed and clinically supervised from within a pharmacy department which sits external to the clinical teams they typically work in, and the lack of pharmacists being fully embedded in interdisciplinary teams. Conclusion Since this is the first study of its kind to be conducted on a small cohort of participants working within one mental health trust in England, this qualitative study will likely highlight the need for further research to be carried out on the topic, such as data collection in several other NHS trusts as well as recruiting participants from the working group and other stakeholders involved in the most recent amendment of the Act. Whilst data collection and analysis are ongoing, initial findings help shed light on potential barriers and also possible solutions to these, as well as other opportunities for pharmacists wishing to assume higher leadership roles within mental health services in England. References 1. Barcham, C. Understanding The Mental Health Act Changes – Challenges And Opportunities For Doctors. BJMP. 2008;1 (2):13–17. 2. Oates, J., Brandon, T., Burrell, C., Ebrahim, S., Taylor, J. & Veitch, P. Non-medical approved clinicians: Results of a first national survey in England and Wales. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 2018;60:51–56.

scholarly journals Safety Performance in Acute Medical Care: A Qualitative, Explorative Study on the Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1543
Author(s):  
Lina Heier ◽  
Donia Riouchi ◽  
Judith Hammerschmidt ◽  
Nikoloz Gambashidze ◽  
Andreas Kocks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Performance Skills ◽  
Work Environment Factors ◽  
Improve Patient

Healthcare professionals need specific safety performance skills in order to maintain and improve patient safety. The purpose of this study is to get a deeper understanding of healthcare professionals’ perspective in acute care on the topic of safety performance. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach. Healthcare professionals working in nursing were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Using content analyzing, categories were identified which present aspects of safety performance; subcategories were developed deductively. A total of 23 healthcare professionals were interviewed, of which 15 were registered nurses, five were nursing students and three were pedagogical personnel. Nine (39.1%) were <30 years old, 17 (73.9%) were female, and 9 (39.1%) had a leadership function. Results highlight the importance of safety performance as a construct of occupational health rather than of patient safety, and the role of the organization, as well as the self-responsibility of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should be more conscious of their role, have a deeper understanding of the interaction of individual, team, patient, organization and work environment factors.

scholarly journals Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioural Responses of Healthcare Students towards Mental Illnesses—A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Riffel ◽  
Shu-Ping Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Behavioural Responses

Background: The stigma of mental illness causes delays in seeking help, and often compromises victims’ therapeutic relationships with healthcare providers. The knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural responses of future healthcare professionals toward individuals with mental illnesses are explored here to suggest steps that will reduce mental illness stigma in healthcare providers. Methods: A generic qualitative approach—Qualitative Description—was used. Eighteen students from nine healthcare programs at a Canadian University participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Participants answered questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural responses towards individuals with mental illnesses. Thematic content analysis guided the data analysis. Results: Four main themes were constructed from the data: positive and negative general perceptions toward mental illness; contact experiences with mental illnesses; mental illness in a healthcare setting; and learning about mental illness in healthcare academia. Conclusions: Students showed well-rounded mental health knowledge and mostly positive behaviours toward individuals with mental illnesses. However, some students hold stigmatizing attitudes and do not feel prepared through their academic experiences to work with individuals with mental illnesses. Mental health education can reduce the stigma toward mental illness and improve the care delivered by healthcare professionals.

Postnatal depression: Can visual media and dramatisation of a young woman's experiences, enable student health care professionals develop knowledge to enhance clinical practice skills?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S675-S675
Author(s):  
A. Lyons ◽  
S. Church
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Postnatal Depression ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Clinical Skill ◽  
Visual Media ◽  
Perinatal Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Education ◽  
Senior Student

IntroductionSince the presentation of the symptoms of postnatal depression (PND) can vary; healthcare professionals must receive the appropriate level of training to develop the knowledge required for the effective assessment and referral of women. Yet, healthcare professionals may have limited knowledge in perinatal mental health and students may lack practice opportunities to develop the knowledge and clinical skills. For these reasons, the use of alternative learning resources within perinatal mental health education is vital.ObjectivesTo explore the use of visual media in perinatal mental health education.AimsAgainst the background of increasing concerns about the ability of professionals to assess women with PND, this paper will consider how using dramatisation as a teaching approach can enable students to develop their knowledge and guide clinical skill development.MethodsThree separate groups of senior student midwives and health visitors were asked to evaluate a dramatisation developed from women's lived experience of PND. Pre and post verbal evaluation of the drama were undertaken with the use of focus groups guided by semi-structured questions. Ethical approval was granted by the university.ResultsFollowing thematic analysis three issues were identified:–the role of the healthcare professional;–improvements needed in care;–issues of education and training.ConclusionsAgainst the background of limited placement experience and opportunity for assessment of PND, the use of visual media can improve student healthcare professionals’ learning; with the use of structured facilitation, there is a great potential for multidisciplinary learning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Staff awareness of the use of cannabidiol (CBD): a trust-wide survey study in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Obioha Ukaegbu ◽  
Jared Smith ◽  
David Hall ◽  
Thomas Frain ◽  
Cyrus Abbasian
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Addiction Services ◽  
Therapeutic Properties ◽  
Health Trust

Abstract Introduction Cannabidiol (CBD) is now a legal substance in Europe and is available in ‘high street shops’, usually as CBD oil. However, in the United Kingdom (UK), there is no clear consensus among healthcare professionals and organisations over how to manage CBD use in their patients. This is an important issue as CBD is a constituent of ‘medicinal and recreational cannabis’ and is gaining support in the scientific literature and lay media for use in physical and mental health problems. Given the aforementioned, this study is an exploration of healthcare professionals’ beliefs and attitudes with regard to CBD. Methods In July 2018, we sent requests by email to approximately 2000 clinical staff (including 319 physicians) at a mental health trust in South West London to answer 8 questions in a single survey using Surveyplanet.com, about their beliefs regarding CBD. There was no specific method of choosing the staff, and the aim was to get the email request sent to as many staff as possible on each service line. We did an analysis to see how the attitudes and beliefs of different staff member groups compared. We also gave them space to offer free text responses to illustrate their ideas and concerns. We used chi-squared tests for comparison across groups and used odds ratio for pairwise group comparisons. Results One hundred ninety surveys were received in response, and of these, 180 were included in the final sample. The physician response rate was 17.2% (55/319); the response rate for non-physicians could not be estimated as their total number was not known at outset. 32.2% of the responders had the right to prescribe (58/180) and 52.8% had an experience of working in addiction services (95/180). We found that staff members who can prescribe were 1.99 times as likely to believe CBD has potential therapeutic properties compared to those who do not (OR = 1.99, CI = 1.03, 3.82; p = 0.038) and 2.94 times less likely to think it had dangerous side effects (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.15, 0.75; p = 0.006). Prescribing healthcare professionals were 2.3 times as likely to believe that CBD reduces the likelihood of psychosis (OR = 2.30, CI = 1.10, 4.78; p = 0.024). However, prescribing healthcare professionals with the ability to prescribe were 2.12 times as likely to believe that CBD should be prescription only (OR = 2.12, CI = 1.12, 4.01; p = 0.02). Individuals experienced in addiction services were 2.22 times as likely to be associated with a belief that CBD has therapeutic properties (OR = 2.22, CI = 1.22, 4.04; p = 0.009). Staff in general reported a lack of knowledge about CBD in their free text responses. Conclusions With almost 95% of prescribers being physicians, they appear to demonstrate awareness of potential therapeutic benefit, reduced likelihood of psychosis and seeming lack of dangerous side effects with CBD. However, their higher stringency about the need for prescription implies an attitude of caution. There was also a suggestion that biases about cannabis were influencing responses to questions as well. The external validity of this study could be diminished by sampling bias and limitation to a single mental health trust. Nonetheless, some of the results drew a reasonable comparison with similar studies.

scholarly journals Factors associated with interest in psychiatry in UK medical students: qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Grace Crowley ◽  
Sube Banerjee ◽  
Lisa Page ◽  
Stephanie Daley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Psychiatry Education ◽  
Extra Curricular Activities ◽  
Fitting In

Aims and method This study aimed to explore factors that positively influence UK medical students’ interest in psychiatry. Delegates and committee members of the National Student Psychiatry Conference 2018 were invited to participate in individual semi-structured interviews. Nine interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four core themes emerged: psychiatry education and exposure, role of a psychiatrist, fitting in, and factors external to medical school. All students had some degree of interest in mental health before medical school, but placement and extra-curricular factors were strongly influential. Implications Interest in psychiatry may be promoted by facilitating student exposure to enthusiastic psychiatrists and psychiatry subspecialties, encouraging extra-curricular activities and identifying early those with pre-existing interest in mental health on admission to medical school. Aspects of psychiatry that should be promoted include the potential to make a positive difference to patients’ lives and the teamworking elements of the specialty.

scholarly journals The crucible of co-production: Case study interviews with Recovery College practitioner trainers

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 977-987
Author(s):  
Mark Dalgarno ◽  
Jennifer Oates
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Single Site ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews

Objectives: This study explored healthcare professionals’ accounts of being practitioner trainers in a mental health Recovery College, where they worked with peer trainers, who were people with lived experience of mental illness, to co-produce workshops for mental health service users and staff. The aim of this study was to understand the process of co-production in the Recovery College from the perspective of practitioner trainers. Design: Single-site case study. Setting: A Recovery College in the South of England, open to staff and service users from one mental health care provider organisation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with eight mental healthcare professionals. Transcripts were thematically analysed. Results: A central image of ‘the workshop as crucible’ emerged from the three themes derived from the analysis. Co-facilitating the workshop was a ‘structured’ encounter, within which health professionals experienced ‘dynamism’ and change. For them, this involved experiences of ‘challenge and discomfort’. Conclusion: Findings from this study contribute to the evidence base for the evaluation of Recovery Colleges by focusing on the training impact on staff. Findings suggest that taking on a trainer role in Recovery College co-production is beneficial for healthcare professionals as well as mental health service users, especially if healthcare professionals are open to the dynamism and possible discomfort of these workshop encounters. Future research, however, should expand beyond single-site case studies to test the extent to which this metaphor and themes are appropriate to describing the ‘transformative’ element of co-production.

scholarly journals Soft adventure motivation: an exploratory study of hiking tourism

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Fabian Bichler ◽  
Mike Peters
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Template Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Special Composition ◽  
Qualitative Discussion

Purpose Adventure activities have become the core products of many tourism destinations. Hiking, which is known to be a soft adventure activity, represents an especially important product for many tourism destinations around the globe and in the European Alps. However, little research has explored hikers’ underlying motivation and experiences, which are expected to differ from the hard adventure context, as mountain hiking provides a low risk, but high immersion. This paper aims to determine and explore the underlying dimensions and dynamics of mountain hikers’ soft adventure motivation (SAM). Design/methodology/approach A concurrent mixed-method design that builds on a quantitative survey (N = 379) and qualitative interviews (N = 14) was used to explore SAM factors. This study combined exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis with semi-structured interviews and template analysis. Findings The quantitative results provide six SAM factors and emphasize that “relaxation,” “socializing” and “discovery” contribute to hiking satisfaction, while “recognition” has adverse effects. By triangulating these findings with hikers’ experiences, this study underlines the associated recreational meaning of hiking and provides an in-depth qualitative discussion of SAM factors and the subordinate role of “recognition.” Originality/value The contribution of this paper is a refined understanding of SAM in the hiking context by emphasizing the recreational meaning of mountain hiking. As a result, this study adds an important missing link to previous outdoor tourism and leisure studies by showing the special composition and dynamics of SAM. The findings also support the creation of tailor-made touristic products.

Exploring the role of mental health first aid officers in workplaces

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 366-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataly Bovopoulos ◽  
Anthony D. LaMontagne ◽  
Angela Martin ◽  
Anthony Jorm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Level Of Experience

Purpose An emerging trend in Australian workplaces is to appoint staff trained in mental health first aid as mental health first aid officers (MHFAOs), similar to physical first aid officers (PFAOs) focused on physical health emergencies. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the nature of MHFAO roles in workplaces and develop recommendations for other workplaces. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology was used, with semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with multiple individuals within five diverse organisations. Findings The results indicated that organisations tended to differ in their approach to implementation, based on their level of experience. There was a strong agreement across organisations on the benefits and challenges they have experienced with the role. Practical implications Organisational representatives highlighted some important differences between PFAO and MHFAO roles. Respondents across all organisations agreed that MHFA training should ideally be offered to all staff if feasible, not only MHFAOs. The greatest challenge experienced by respondents was inadequate support to, and internal resourcing for, MHFAO roles. Respondents suggested that workplaces provide more support and training to MHFAOs. Originality/value This is the first study to explore and describe the experiences of workplaces with MHFAOs. Recommendations are made to assist interested organisations in these efforts.

scholarly journals Factors affecting the changing role of GP clinicians in community hospitals: a qualitative interview study in England

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (682) ◽  
pp. e329-e335
Author(s):  
David Seamark ◽  
Deborah Davidson ◽  
Angela Ellis-Paine ◽  
Jon Glasby ◽  
Helen Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Community Hospitals ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Hospital Work

BackgroundGPs were a key driving force for the development of a network of community hospitals across England, and have provided medical cover for most of them. However, during the past decade there has been a significant shift, with the dominant trend appearing to be one of declining GP involvement.AimTo explore how and why the role of GPs within community hospitals in England is changing.Design and settingQualitative study in a sample of nine diverse community hospitals in England.MethodQualitative interviews with community hospital clinical staff.ResultsIn all, 20 interviews were conducted and two models of medical care observed: GPs employed by a practice and trust-employed doctors. Interviewees confirmed the trend towards declining GP involvement, with the factors driving change identified as being GP workload and recruitment challenges, a change from ‘step-up’ admissions from the community to ‘step-down’ admissions from acute hospitals, fewer local patients being admitted, increased medical acuity of patients admitted, increased burden of medical support required, and inadequate remuneration. The majority of doctors viewed community hospital work in a positive light, welcoming the opportunities for personal development and to acquire new clinical skills. GPs viewed community hospital work as an extension of primary care, adding to job satisfaction.ConclusionMultiple factors have driven changes in the role of GP community hospital clinicians. The NHS needs to develop a focused strategy if GPs are to remain engaged with community hospital work.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document