title: Therapist and case manager perceptions of client barriers to treatment participation and use of engagement strategies.
abstract: This study of 33 mental health therapists and 30 case managers examined the relationship between practitioners' assessments of the importance of potential treatment barriers and their use of engagement strategies to overcome those barriers and improve treatment participation. Results confirmed the hypothesis that workers who viewed treatment barriers as more important were significantly more active in their reported efforts to engage clients (r = .28, p < .05). Although no significant differences between the two groups were found in overall use of engagement strategies, we found a significant interaction effect between position and types of strategies used, with therapists employing more discussion strategies while case managers were more likely to employ practical engagement strategies (F = 35.79, p < .001). Findings suggest the desirability of enhancing mental health workers' sensitivity to the range of barriers that clients may experience, and expanding the repertoire of engagement strategies they use to encourage client retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio 43952, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Manfred-Gilham
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koeske
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy