The Reality of Uncertainty in Mental Health Care Settings Seeking Professional Integration: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Resident training in psychopathology and uncertainty in a clinical situation

The central theme of this article is the way in which psychiatry physicians-in-training deal with uncertainty in the discussion of clinical cases in Mexico. Methodologically, it is approached from the field of clinical ethnography and the narrative interpretation of plots in performative actions where there are sequences of communicative exchanges. In this way, it focuses on a detailed description of situations where clinical cases are reviewed to decipher, explain, and understand intersubjective meanings in the face of the emergence of uncertainty, its management, and the implications on decisions and actions. The study finds that limitations within the field of psychiatry lie in the nosographic construction of disease and its translation into the diagnostic hypotheses made by clinicians, where there are wide margins of ambiguity. The strategies implemented in the face of uncertainty are use of drugs, the collegiate review of the case, and utilization of intuition as a spontaneous, preconscious daily practice. The specific case described here provides a microscopic observation of the complex scenarios in which uncertainty occurs in educational and teaching processes, clearly revealing how patient care is articulated. The narratives and their interpretation are materials for training/curriculum and psychiatric clinical practice.

Stakeholder identified research priorities for early intervention in psychosis

BACKGROUND

Public resources to answer pertinent research questions about the impact of illness and treatment on people with mental health problems are limited. To target funds effectively and efficiently and maximize the health benefits to populations, prioritizing research areas is needed. Research agendas are generally driven by researcher and funder priorities, however, there is growing recognition of the need to include user-defined research priorities to make research more relevant, needs-based and efficient.

OBJECTIVE

To gain consensus on top priorities for research into early intervention in psychosis through a robust, democratic process for prioritization enlisting the views of key stakeholders including users, carers and healthcare professionals. We also sought to determine which user-prioritized questions were supported by scientific evidence.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used a modified nominal group technique to gain consensus on unanswered questions that were obtained by survey and ranked at successive stages by a steering group comprising users, carer representatives and clinicians from relevant disciplines and stakeholder bodies. We checked each question posed in the survey was unanswered in research by reviewing evidence in five databases (Medline, Cinahl, PsychInfo, EMBASE and Cochrane Database).

RESULTS

Two hundred and eighty-three questions were submitted by 207 people. After checking for relevance, reframing and examining for duplicates, 258 questions remained. We gained consensus on 10 priority questions; these largely represented themes around access and engagement, information needs before and after treatment acceptance, and the influence of service-user (SU) priorities and beliefs on treatment choices and effectiveness. A recovery SUtheme identified specific self-management questions and more globally, a need to fully identify factors that impact recovery.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Published research findings indicated that the priorities of service users, carers and healthcare professionals were aligned with researchers' and funders' priorities in some areas and misaligned in others providing vital opportunities to develop research agendas that more closely reflect users' needs.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Initial results were presented at stakeholder workshops which included service-users, carers, health professionals and researchers during a consensus workshop to prioritize research questions and allow the opportunity for feedback. Patient and public representatives formed part of the steering group and were consulted regularly during the research process.

Missed nursing care and complexity theory: a conceptual paper

Background

Missed nursing care is a complex healthcare problem. Extant literature in this area identifies several interventions that can be used in acute hospital settings to minimise the impact of missed nursing care. However, controversy still exists as to the effectiveness of these interventions on reducing the occurrence of missed nursing care.

Aim

This theoretical paper aimed to provide a conceptual understanding of missed nursing care using complexity theory.

Methods

The method utilised for this paper is based on a literature review on missed care and complexity theory in healthcare.

Results

We found that the key virtues of complexity theory relevant to the missed nursing care phenomenon were adaptation and self-organisation, non-linear interactions and history. It is suggested that the complex adaptive systems approach may be more useful for nurse managers to inform and prepare nurses to meet uncertain encounters in their everyday clinical practice and therefore reduce instances of missed care.

Conclusions

This paper envisions that it is time that methods used to explore missed care changed. Strategies proposed in this paper may have an important impact on the ability of nursing staff to provide quality and innovative healthcare in the modern healthcare system.

Developing Interpersonal Trust Between Service Users and Professionals in Integrated Services: Compensating for Latent Distrust, Vulnerabilities and Uncertainty Shaped by Organisational Context

Introduction:

Studies show a need for trust between stakeholders in integrated services. However, few studies have investigated how trust develops between stakeholders on a micro-level. In a Danish intersectoral intervention for persons on sick leave due to common mental disorders, we explored why trust is needed and how trust is developed between micro-level stakeholders.

Methodology:

The qualitative study was based on 12 observations of inter-organisational meetings, 16 interviews with service users, 24 interviews with health care professionals and employment consultants, and 8 interviews with supervisors. The analysis was guided by the theoretical concepts (dis-) trust, vulnerability and uncertainty.

Results:

Latent distrust between involved organisations, and vulnerabilities and uncertainties related to employment consultants’ statutory power over service users caused a perceived need for interpersonal trust. Time to establish knowledge-based relationships, healthcare professionals’ caring approach, and creating a feeling of sharing interests were compensating trust-building strategies that were often regarded as positive.

Discussion and conclusion:

Trust in personal relationships between stakeholders appeared to compensate for contextually shaped distrust, vulnerability and uncertainty. Identifying latent distrust, vulnerabilities, uncertainties, and power structures might be key to improving trust-building strategies in a specific context. The time-consuming process of trust-building between micro-level stakeholders should be supported structurally.

Distributive Leadership Within an Emerging Network of Integrated Youth Health Centres: A Case Study of Foundry

Background

Distributive leadership has been proposed as an effective means towards achieving integrated health services. This study draws from the case of Foundry, a network of integrated youth health centres in British Columbia, Canada, and explores the function and impact of distributive leadership in the context of a large-scale effort towards integrated service delivery for youth experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.

Methods

Qualitative data was obtained from a developmental evaluation of Foundry using a longitudinal, ethnographic approach. Over 150 participants involved in the development of six Foundry centres were interviewed individually or in focus groups. Purposive and theoretical sampling strategies were used to maximize the diversity of perspectives represented in the data set.

Results and Discussion

Distributive leadership was observed to be a facilitator for achieving service and system-level integration. Distributive leadership was effective in promoting streamlined service provision, and coordinating efforts towards optimized access to care. A new culture of leadership emerged through collaboration and relationship-building based on a common value system to prioritize youth needs.

Conclusion

As Foundry, and other integrated youth services, continues to expand, distributive leadership shows promise in assuring diverse and coordinated input for integrating services.