Decision making for health care professionals: use of decision trees within the community mental health setting.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the application of the decision tree approach to collaborative clinical decision-making in mental health care in the United Kingdom (UK).


BACKGROUND
While this approach to decision-making has been examined in the acute care setting, there is little published evidence of its use in clinical decision-making within the mental health setting. The complexities of dual diagnosis (schizophrenia and substance misuse in this case example) and the varied viewpoints of different professionals often hamper the decision-making process. This paper highlights how the approach was used successfully as a multiprofessional collaborative approach to decision-making in the context of British community mental health care.


METHODS
A selective review of the relevant literature and a case study application of the decision tree framework.


CONCLUSIONS
The process of applying the decision tree framework to clinical decision-making in mental health practice can be time consuming and client inclusion within the process is not always appropriate. The approach offers a method of assigning numerical values to support complex multiprofessional decision-making as well as considering underpinning literature to inform the final decision. Use of the decision tree offers a common framework that can assist professionals to examine the options available to them in depth, while considering the complex variables that influence decision-making in collaborative mental health practice. Use of the decision tree warrants further consideration in mental health care in terms of practice and education.
Bonner
G
G
Thames Valley University, Slough, Berkshire, UK. gwen.bonner@tvu.ac.uk
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003663:Decision Trees; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009736:Nursing Process; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011570:Psychiatry; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom