title: Implementation of preventive mental health services for children of physically ill parents: experiences in seven European countries and health care systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parental physical disease is a family issue, but families' minor children are seldom considered. The current study analyzed experiences with implementation of counseling for families with physically ill parents and minor children during a European multisite pilot project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Implementation protocols of seven European partner centers collaborating in a joint research project were analyzed by Mayring's qualitative content analysis. Both an inductive approach and a deductive approach were chosen. Satisfaction of families and therapists was considered based on information from three partner centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfaction with counseling was rather high. Mentioned problems referred to aspects related to liaison partners, family-related aspects and physicians' concerns. Recommendations related to contacting families, liaising with other professions, implementing counseling together with a research project, and training. Results are integrated in the current dissemination literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful implementation was mostly determined by aspects of interdisciplinary cooperation and communication, perceived relative advantage and organizational premises. With regard to this kind of innovative child-centered family mental health services, top-down and bottom-up implementation strategies should be combined, and strategies of maintenance and sustainability should be considered from the very beginning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kühne
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haagen
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldus
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diareme
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grether
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanescu
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stöckl
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thastum
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires