title: Multiple perspectives on shared decision-making and interprofessional collaboration in mental healthcare.
abstract: Shared decision-making is an essential element of patient-centered care in mental health. Since mental health services involve healthcare providers from different professions, a multiple perspective to shared decision-making may be valuable. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of different healthcare professionals on shared decision-making and current interprofessional collaboration in mental healthcare. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 healthcare providers from a range of professions, which included medical practitioners (psychiatrists, general practitioners), pharmacists, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. Findings indicated that healthcare providers supported the notion of shared decision-making in mental health, but felt that it should be condition dependent. Medical practitioners advocated a more active participation from consumers in treatment decision-making; whereas other providers (e.g. pharmacists, occupational therapists) focused more toward acknowledging consumers' needs in decisions, perceiving themselves to be in an advisory role in supporting consumers' decision-making. Although healthcare providers acknowledged the importance of interprofessional collaboration, only a minority discussed it within the context of shared decision-making. In conclusion, healthcare providers appeared to have differing perceptions on the level of consumer involvement in shared decision-making. Interprofessional roles to facilitate shared decision-making in mental health need to be acknowledged, understood and strengthened, before an interprofessional approach to shared decision-making in mental health can be effectively implemented.
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia. iwen.chong@sydney.edu.au
authors: Wei Wen
authors: WW
authors: Chong
authors: Parisa
authors: P
authors: Aslani
authors: Timothy F
authors: TF
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009517:New South Wales; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*