Self-referral to inpatient treatment program in a community mental health Centre in Central Norway: investigating the implementation, professionals’ experiences and costs

BMC Health Services Research

Marit By Rise¹  Inger Elise Opheim Moljord²  Kine Gabrielsen Stensvåg³  Vidar Halsteinli⁴ 

[1] Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway;Department of Research, Innovation and Education, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;Nidaros Community Mental Health Centre, Clinic of Psychiatry, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;Nidaros Community Mental Health Centre, Clinic of Psychiatry, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;Regional Centre for Health Care Improvement, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway;

关键词: Mental health services;    Low-threshold;    Self-referral;    Patient-controlled admission;    User participation;    Patient participation;    Empowerment;    Professional’s experiences;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-021-07273-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSelf-referral to inpatient treatment (SRIT) is built on user participation and patient autonomy. SRIT was conducted for patients with severe mental disorders in a Norwegian Community Mental Health Centre. The aims of the present study were to describe the implementation of SRIT, explore the professionals’ experiences of SRIT and assess the costs entailed.MethodsQualitative document analysis, interviews with professionals and quantitative analysis of register data from a randomized controlled trial were used.ResultsSRIT seemed to be implemented as intended. According to the professionals, SRIT allowed the patients to cope, be empowered, more active and responsible. Some professionals experienced increased responsibility for patients’ medication and for assessing health and suicide risks. SRIT did not reduce hospital costs. The professionals were satisfied with nurse-led SRIT treatment.ConclusionsSRIT appears to be a high-quality mental health service that empowers and activates patients. Nurse-led treatment may entail more efficient use of professional resources.In future implementations of SRIT, the efficient use of service resources and the administration of beds should be investigated. More flexible availability should be considered in line with the intentions behind SRIT, as well as ensuring adequate professional training in assessing health and suicide risk.

【 授权许可】

CC BY