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Mughal F, Saunders B, Lewis M, Armitage CJ, Dikomitis L, Lancaster G, Townsend E, Chew-Graham CA. Exploring General Practitioners' Management of Self-Harm in Young People: A Qualitative Study. Health Expect 2024; 27:e70026. [PMID: 39252441 PMCID: PMC11386252 DOI: 10.1111/hex.70026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) are key to the frontline assessment and treatment of young people after self-harm. Young people value GP-led self-harm care, but little is known about how GPs manage young people after self-harm. AIM This study aimed to understand the approaches of GPs to self-harm in young people and explore their perspectives on ways they might help young people avoid repeat self-harm. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with GPs from the National Health Service in England in 2021. GPs were recruited from four geographically spread clinical research networks and a professional special interest group. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study's patient and public involvement and community of practice groups supported participant recruitment and data analysis. RESULTS Fifteen interviews were undertaken with a mean age of participants being 41 years and a breadth of experience in practice ranging from 1 to 22 years. Four themes were generated: GPs' understanding of self-harm; approaches to managing self-harm; impact of COVID-19 on consultations about self-harm; and ways to avoid future self-harm. CONCLUSION Negative attitudes towards self-harm within clinical settings are well documented, but GPs said they took self-harm seriously, listened to young people, sought specialist support when concerned and described appropriate ways to help young people avoid self-harm. GPs felt that relationship-based care is an important element of self-harm care but feared remote consultations for self-harm may impede on this. There is a need for brief GP-led interventions to reduce repeat self-harm in young people. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION A study advisory group consisting of young people aged 16-25 years with personal experience of self-harm and parents and carers of young people who have self-harmed designed the recruitment poster of this study, informed its topic guide and contributed to its findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraz Mughal
- Unit of Academic Primary Care, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | | | | | - Christopher J Armitage
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa Dikomitis
- Centre for Health Services Studies and Kent and Medway Medical School, University of Kent, Kent, UK
| | | | - Ellen Townsend
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Leather JZ, Keyworth C, Kapur N, Campbell SM, Armitage CJ. Implementation of national guidance for self-harm among general practice nurses: a qualitative exploration using the capabilities, opportunities, and motivations model of behaviour change (COM-B) and the theoretical domains framework. BMC Nurs 2023; 22:452. [PMID: 38041157 PMCID: PMC10693142 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01360-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients who self-harm may consult with primary care nurses, who have a safeguarding responsibility to recognise and respond to self-harm. However, the responses of nursing staff to self-harm are poorly understood, and opportunities to identify self-harm and signpost towards treatment may be missed. It is unclear how to support nursing staff to implement national guidelines. AIMS Among primary care nursing staff to: [1] Examine reported barriers and enablers to nurses' use of, and adherence to, national guidance for self-harm; and [2] Recommend potential intervention strategies to improve implementation of the NICE guidelines. METHODS Twelve telephone interviews partly structured around the capabilities, opportunities and motivations model of behaviour change (COM-B) were conducted with primary care nurses in the United Kingdom. The Theoretical Domains Framework was used as an analytical framework, while the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to identify exemplar behaviour change techniques and intervention functions. RESULTS Nursing staff identified a need to learn more about risk factors (knowledge), and strategies to initiate sensitive conversations about self-harm (cognitive and interpersonal skills) to support their professional competencies (professional role and identity). Prompts may support recall of the guidance and support a patient centred approach to self-harm within practices (memory, attention, and decision making). GPs, and other practice nurses offer guidance and support (social influences), which helps nurses to navigate referrals and restricted appointment lengths (environmental context and influences). CONCLUSIONS Two converging sets of themes relating to information delivery and resource availability need to be targeted. Nine groups of behaviour change techniques, and five intervention functions offer candidate solutions for future intervention design. Key targets for change include practical training to redress conversational skill gaps about self-harm, the integration of national guidance with local resources and practice-level protocols to support decision-making, and creating opportunities for team-based mentoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Z Leather
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK.
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK.
| | - Chris Keyworth
- The School of Psychology, The University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, UK
| | - Nav Kapur
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
- Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen M Campbell
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Pretoria, 0208, South Africa
| | - Christopher J Armitage
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The Nowgen Centre, Manchester, UK
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