D. Cur. / The model "Facilitating mental health promotion through mobilising comfort for homeless mentally ill persons in urban areas" was developed by using a theory generative design that is qualitative, contextual, explorative and descriptive in nature. To achieve the research purpose specific objectives were formulated. This model was developed according to Chinn and Kramer's (1995:162) approach to theory generation as indicated in the first step. Identification of the central concepts for the model took place by conducting a field study to explore and describe the lived experiences of the homeless mentally ill persons and their views of what they think would alleviate their situation. A multiple case study strategy was followed. The sample consisted of three homeless mentally ill persons, purposively selected from the Soweto urban vii areas. Informed verbal consent had been obtained from all participants, and the reasons for conducting the research study were explained to them. Data collection was obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews using the phenomenological perspective and communication techniques to elicit relevant information. Data from transcripts of recorded audiotapes and field notes were analysed using the methods of Tesch's steps (in Creswell, 1994:154; Yin, 1994:102; and Merriam, 1998:16). An independent coder assisted in coding the results. Reasoning strategies used were analysis, synthesis, inductive and deductive according to Tesch's method. The results were verified through a literature review. Further analysis of data for defining the major concepts of the model which are "HOPE and COMFORT", were determined according to the method described by Wandelt and Steward (1983:64). The concepts of the model were analysed thoroughly by going through different dictionaries and subject usage. The other related concepts were identified and classified by using a survey list of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968:430). In Step Two the defined concepts were related to each other to show interrelationships. Classification of central and relational concepts were followed to create relationship-statements as the conceptual framework of the model. In Step Three the structure and process description of the model was designed according to Chinn and Kramer (1995:108). The model was evaluated by a panel of experts. Step Four dealt with guidelines to operationalise the model in practice, education and psychiatric nursing research. Guba and Lincoln's (1985) model for trustworthiness of qualitative research was also employed. It is based on the identification of four strategies for ensuring trustworthiness used in this study, namely: truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. Recommendations and limitations of the research were also discussed.

Based on data concerning Korean Americans affected by mental health problems, it is apparent that current methods of providing mental health services are not adequate. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of various mental disorders and barriers keeping Korean Americans from utilizing mental health services.

The purpose of this study is to test the utility of Talcott Parsons' AGIL Model, i.e., Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, and Latency (Pattern Maintenance) in evaluating the program effectiveness of a community mental health center (CMHC). The model provided a conceptual framework for the selection of appropriate variables. The dependent variable in this study is the overall evaluation of the CMHC as measured through the perception of community leaders. Fourteen hypotheses were constructed to identify and test the relationship among the AGIL criteria and the use of a selected set of independent variables. Data for this study were collected from primary and secondary sources. Secondary data were obtained from the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in Austin and the CMHC center in Eton. Primary data were collected through personal interviews of general community leaders and influential persons in health-related activities in the community. The selected independent variables included the scope of leadership, the attitude towards this community, socio-economic status, knowledge of the CMHC, and the commitment and involvement in the CMHC. Data indicated that Parsons' criteria for evaluating the CMHC's program were comprehensive and related to each other both positively and negatively. Among the selected independent variables, the type of leader was found to be the best predictor of program evaluation of this CMHC. Overall, generalized community leaders were more defensive and favorable to the CMHC's program compared with the specialinterest leaders. The leaders also differed in their emphasis of the AGIL criteria. The generalized community leaders were conservative in emphasizeing the evaluative criteria of adaptation, integration, and pattern maintenance; the special-interest leaders gave more emphasis to the goal attainment function of CMHC. It was concluded that Parsons' AGIL model was useful for evaluating a CMHC. The variant direction of relationship among AGIL criteria indicated differences in the perception of community leaders in the evaluation of the CMHC.

Bibliography: pages 108-115. / The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate demographic factors and treatment characteristics contained in the historical records of those treated as in-patients at the Sonstraal Adolescent unit of Lentegeur Hospital, during the period 1986 to 1990. This demographic study details the following aspects of the adolescent in-patients: size, that is, numbers of those admitted to the unit; composition, including age, sex and area. Treatment characteristics such as reasons for admission, diagnosis of psychopathology, referral agent on admission and discharge and length of stay in the unit are considered. The data for the study have been extracted from the clinical records contained at Sonstraal, namely , the 'Clinical Summary on Discharge' form. This form is completed by the therapist of each adolescent attending the unit. The EpiInfo computer programmes have been utilised to create a database and to select the appropriate procedures and statistics which form the basis for data analysis and interpretation. Data interpretation includes an analysis of the emerging trends and details the implications for policy issues, unit staffing and treatment options. Analysis of the trends and comparisons with literature findings have facilitated the generation of hypotheses which could be tested in future studies. This study therefore provides a working document for future prioritising and planning of in-patient, out-patient and community mental health services to adolescents, their families and communities. This involves recommendations for intervention and community involvement. In addition, the study provides a basis for future research into adolescent mental health care.

BACKGROUND: Women in Pakistan experience a high prevalence of depression; yet make negligible use of mental health services. Information about the barriers and facilitators to mental health services for women is scarce. The present study explored the barriers and facilitators in accessing mental health services and potential strategies to increase the access for women in Karachi. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted with the help of 78 interviews. Women from primary care were screened for depression and thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with those who were not accessing mental health services. Twenty-nine interviews were conducted with women accessing mental health services for depression at mental health clinics. Nineteen key informant interviews were conducted with various stakeholders. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Themes elicited were categorized into family and household, health services, and socio-cultural levels. At family and household level, lack of awareness, normalization of depression, lack of empowerment, burden of looking after children and threats of divorce discouraged women from seeking professional care. Stigma, discouragement to seek mental health care and religious interpretations of depression were reported as broader socio-cultural issues, driving many to visit faith healers instead. Gaps in medical education, general practitioners’ case overload, and poor quality of health care, gender bias, poor resource allocation and dearth of referral systems were highlighted as barriers at health services level. For facilitators themes of awareness, concern for children, the severity of the symptoms, family support, receiving a referral, affordability and organizational support were identified as factors that enabled women to access services. Both women and key-informants suggested that providing community-based interventions could be a viable option to increase the access. CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest that providing mental health services in communities, and reforming medical education through the training of health workers can improve access to mental health services for women. An intervention is proposed to provide mental health services through community based lady health workers in Karachi. This may provide more accessible, and potentially cost effective, mental health services to better address the mental health needs of the population. / 2018-12-08T00:00:00Z

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas State University Libraries

Aim This research programme aimed to investigate issues relating to the management of patient non-adherence with antipsychotic medication. The findings from the patient-related studies and the systematic literature review informed the development of a medication management staff training programme; which was evaluated in terms of the effects on mental health professionals’ understanding and clinical practice in Hong Kong. Background Medication management interventions which are designed to maximise the potential benefits of antipsychotic medication for severe mental illness have shown promise in improving symptoms, reducing relapse rates and addressing non-adherence. Subsequent medication management studies which involve training mental health professionals in similar psychosocial interventions have also demonstrated that improvements in mental health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and skills can result in improved patient outcomes; however, the studies have not been replicated outside western general psychiatry settings and therefore the effects of training mental health professionals in other clinical contexts have not been established. Methods This research programme consists of a series of five studies that utilised a variety of methodological approaches. Three cross-sectional surveys were used to identify and explore clinical problems central to medication management in order to refine the staff training programme; the first investigates the extent of, and associations with, antipsychotic medication non-adherence in prisons. Qualitative interview data from the prison study provides additional context to the requirements for medication management training interventions by exploring prisoners’ experiences of taking antipsychotic medication. The second survey ascertains and explores the problem of non-adherence with antipsychotics in an Asian population, and the third provides an estimate of potential treatment-related physical health problems. A systematic literature review investigates studies which measure the effects of medication management training on clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes and skills. Finally concept mapping and clinicians’ narratives are used in a longitudinal case series 2 study in order to establish the transferability of medication management training to an Asian setting and evaluate the effects of training on clinicians’ understanding and clinical practice. Results Patients’ positive attitudes towards antipsychotic medication, particularly awareness of the need for treatment predicted higher levels of adherence, and concerns about the adverse effects of these medications are closely related to the environmental context of treatment. Concerns associated with antipsychotic side effects appear to be less prominent when patients are not working or in prison but they may influence adherence when demands on functioning change. The modified medication management training was effective in improving clinicians’ understanding and was felt to be transferrable to an Asian setting, but patients’ and families’ traditional cultural beliefs about mental illness and concerns about the effects of western medication on physical health were found to be particular challenges when implementing adherence interventions. Patients with severe mental illness in Hong Kong are twice as likely compared to the general population to have developed metabolic syndrome, consequently medication management interventions could require greater focus on the identification and management of physical health problems; which may help to address patient and family concerns about long-term treatment. The staff training programme requires psychopharmacology teaching, provision of clinical supervision and side effects management content in order to improve clinicians’ confidence when implementing medication management interventions. Conclusions Concerns about the adverse effects of treatment that influence adherence are environmentally bound. As influences on medication adherence are different in different settings, staff training programmes should place more emphasis on the local context in order to improve efficacy and the feasibility of implementation. The results suggest that in Hong Kong medication management interventions should have an increased focus on families and that treatment satisfaction could be a suitable target for interventions. The findings also present a question about whether previous medication management studies have given due consideration to predicting and managing concerns about the impact of side effects on functioning over the longer term and the potential effects of medication on patients’ physical well-being. The outcomes of this programme also demonstrate that future medication management training studies need to use robust study designs in order to more certainly attribute clinicians’ improvements to the training intervention and could consider measuring treatment satisfaction as a primary patient outcome measure.

Living with diabetes can present a number of challenges for individuals concerned. Managing diabetes day to day involves a complex medication and behavioural regime which interrelates with various important psychosocial factors. Previous research suggests that people living with diabetes are as much as two-three times more likely to experience mental health difficulties compared with the general population. However evidence is emerging that many of these difficulties may in fact be a direct result of feeling distressed about living with a complicated and stressful chronic health condition, and not necessarily resultant from co-morbid psychiatric illness. These experiences are known by the term diabetes related distress. To date psychosocial factors related to living with diabetes have mainly been explored quantitatively. However, qualitative approaches have increased in popularity in diabetes research in recent years and can add valuable and rich information to existing data from quantitative research. Extant qualitative research in diabetes has mainly focused on people living with type 2 diabetes or children with type 1 diabetes, leaving adults living with type 1 diabetes as a relatively under researched group. This study aimed to answer the following research questions:Primary: What are the lived experiences of adults with type 1 diabetes? And secondary:What aspects of living with type 1 diabetes are experienced as distressing? ; and What are the potential implications for health services? Eight adults living with type 1 diabetes were interviewed about their experiences. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Six major themes emerged from participants' interviews. These were: Experiences of diagnosis, Physical impact of type 1 diabetes, Psychological impact of type 1 diabetes, Social impact of type 1 diabetes, Influence of healthcare teams and Ways of coping. Example subthemes are; Feeling frustrated and restricted by treatment regimes, psychological and emotional distress, constant awareness and worry, impact on development and sense of self, stigma and lack of understanding from others, support from diabetes team and experiences of a simplistic view of diabetes. Participants reported a wide variety of experiences related to the biological, psychological and social components of type 1 diabetes. Some of these were experienced as highly distressing whilst others were more easily managed. This was often dependent on individual differences and was not necessarily static over time. Further awareness of this in practice and a focus on diabetes and its treatment within the context of people’s unique psychosocial circumstances is highly important in supporting people to reduce diabetes related distress, which can improve glycaemic control, health related quality of life and wellbeing.

Despite the number of best practice guidelines for working with those at risk of suicide, there remains a paucity of research pertaining to the realities of clinical practice. The aim of this study was to develop a grounded theory of how clinicians respond to those at risk of suicide in UK community mental health settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven members of staff including social workers, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists. A theory grounded in the resulting data was developed. Results: Anxiety, uncertainty and practitioners’ perceived responsibility for preventing suicide influenced their attributions in relation to a client’s distress. Findings indicated that clinicians most often attributed low responsibility to clients for both the cause and the solution. Therefore, clinicians sought solutions to suicidal presentations within services, rather than attending to contextual or environmental ‘triggers’ to offer a resolution, potentially increasing dependency on services. Feeling supported and an environment of psychological safety enhanced professionals’ capacity to tolerate the uncertainty inherent in this work which allowed professionals to ‘hand the responsibility back’. This highlights the importance of services creating an environment of psychological safety in order for clinicians to tolerate the uncertainty of working with those who present with suicide risk.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work