Introduction Seminar About Patient Participation and Treatment Options for Psychiatric Patients on Waiting List

Introduction Seminar About Patient Participation and Treatment Options for Psychiatric Patients on Waiting List

Introduction Seminar About Patient Participation and Treatment Options for Patients on Waiting List in a Community Mental Health Centre - Development, Effect, Experiences and Costs

Patient participation is a central concept in Norwegian health policy. It is mandatory in hospitals and emphasised as one of the most prioritised areas by the Government. Studies from Norway have repeatedly found that patients who seek help in community mental health centres ("DPS") are dissatisfied with the information they receive and about their possibility for real influence in their treatment. One way to improve individual patient participation might be to give patients information before they start their treatment. This can be done as group based patient education to reduce the resources needed. Furthermore, as there are waiting lists for treatment, such introduction seminars could be held while patients are waiting to use this time in a meaningful way. The present study therefore aims at testing the effect of an introduction seminar for patients on waiting list in a community mental health centre.

The seminar will be held over two half days, each lasting 2.5 hours. Up to 30 patients can participate in each seminar. The details of the content of the program will be developed based on study one. The preliminarily plans are to give general information about the community mental health centre, the available treatment options and patients rights by presentations from health personnel and user representatives. At the end of each day, the patients will be divided into small groups mentored by health personnel were they can discuss the presentations and ask questions. In the breaks, literature and other type of information for patients will be on display. All participants will get a folder with details of the program and leaflets from patient organisations and governmental agencies.

data on health care use, sick leave, medication and other direct and indirect costs will be collected

Inclusion Criteria: Patients older than 18 years referred for out patient treatment who get a guarantee of starting treatment between 2 and 6 months will be included. Exclusion Criteria: patients with a guarantee of starting treatment in less than two months and patients who do not understand the consequences of taking part in the study

Koksvik JM, Linaker OM, Grawe RW, Bjorngaard JH, Lara-Cabrera ML. The effects of a pretreatment educational group programme on mental health treatment outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018 Aug 29;18(1):665. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3466-2.