Abstract
Patients with mental health problems experience numerous transitions into and out of hospital. This study explores former patients' views of pathways in transition between district psychiatric hospital centres (DPCs) and community mental health services. A descriptive qualitative design was chosen. Three focus group interviews with a total of 10 informants from five different communities were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically where themes describe promoting or inhibitory factors to the transition phase. The informants shared their experiences on issues promoting and preventing successful care pathways in mental health. Four main paired themes were identified: (a) patient participation/activation/empowerment versus paternalism and institutionalization, (b) patient-centred care versus care interpreted as humiliation, (c) interprofessional collaboration or teamwork versus unsafe patient pathways in mental health services, and (d) sustainable integrated care versus fragmented, noncollaborative care. Shared decision making was reported more precisely as informed shared decision making. Shared information between all parties involved in care pathways is key.
Highlights
Transition of care is an important topic in health care
This study aimed to explore the nature of former patients' involvement and perspectives on their care pathways between psychiatric hospitalization and community mental health services at key transition points
Four areas of care pathways between district psychiatric hospital centres (DPCs) and community mental health services emerged from the analysis as follows (Table 1): 3.1 | Patient participation/activation/empowerment versus paternalism and institutionalization
Summary
Transition of care is an important topic in health care. This is the case for patients with mental health problems who experience numerous transitions into and out of hospital. Many such individuals experience multiple hospitalizations for brief periods of time—a phenomenon often referred to as the “revolving door.”[1] Importantly, these patients have diverse preferences for care and face a variety of barriers. Care pathways are understood as interventions for the care management of mental health patients in need of complex health services during a well‐defined period of time.[4,5]
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