Users' choice and change of allocated primary mental health professional in community-based mental health services: A scoping review.

Giulia Rioli,Alessandro Minarini,Silvia Ferrari,Claire Henderson,Riccardo Vandelli,Giacomo Galli,Gian Maria Galeazzi

doi:10.1177/0020764020910182

Abstract

The recovery model in mental health care emphasizes users' right to be involved in key decisions of their care, including choice of one's primary mental health professional (PMHP). The aim of this article was to provide a scoping review of the literature on the topic of users' choice, request of change and preferences for the PMHP in community mental health services. A search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycINFO for papers in English was performed. Additional relevant research articles were identified through the authors' personal bibliography. A total of 2,774 articles were screened and 38 papers were finally included. Four main aspects emerged: (1) the importance, for users, to be involved in the choice of their PMHP; (2) the importance, for users, of the continuity of care in the relationship with their PMHP; (3) factors of the user/PMHP dyad influencing users' preferences; and (4) the effect of choice on the treatment outcomes. While it is generally agreed that it is important to consider users' preferences in choosing or requesting to change their PMHP, little research on this topic is available. PMHPs' and other stakeholders' views should also be explored in order to discuss ethical and practical issues.

Highlights

Service Users’ choice in the light of the recovery paradigmThe recovery model in mental health, developed from the study of subjective experiences of illness and healing process of persons with mental health problems, has gained wide recognition in mental health policies and practice (Anthony, 2007)
In the absence of research evidence demonstrating the efficacy of client choice on therapy outcome, support for the notion of client the gender-mismatched conditions
The right for the users of community mental health services to choose their primary mental health professional (PMHP) is in line with the principle of the respect of Autonomy, one of the four fundamental principles of biomedical ethics (Beuachamp & Childress, 1979)

Summary

Introduction

The recovery model in mental health, developed from the study of subjective experiences of illness and healing process of persons with mental health problems, has gained wide recognition in mental health policies and practice (Anthony, 2007) This model focuses on the process of care, promoting service users’ right to co-produce and choose with carers. Service users’ right to choose or be involved in the choice of their primary mental health professional (PMHP) may be another relevant 42 aspect. The choice of their PMHP: ethical framework. The aim of this paper was to provide a scoping review of the literature on the topic of users’ choice, request of change and preferences for the PMHP in community mental health services. The recovery model in mental health care emphasizes users’ right to be 17 involved in key decisions of their care, including choice of one’s primary mental health professional (PMHP)

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Results

Conclusion