Being Accountable or Filling in Forms: Managers and Clinicians' Views About Communicating Risk.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment, documentation, and prevention of risk are central to mental health services. However, there is a paucity of research examining how risk is perceived by key stakeholders including managers and clinicians.


METHODS
Qualitative, exploratory design. In-depth interviews were held with 22 senior managers and 21 clinicians.


RESULTS
Communicating risk was a major theme to emerge. For managers, accountability was a primary consideration in communicating risk and therefore influential over nursing practice. Clinicians were more likely to view the organizational processes of communicating risk as a bureaucratic exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant difference between managers and clinicians is problematic for achieving consumer-focused mental health service delivery, a more critical approach to risk is essential in preserving the therapeutic relationship.
Gold Coast Mental Health Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Leonie
L
Clancy
Synergy, Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, and ACT Health, Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Brenda
B
Happell
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008499:Medical Records; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult
Clinician; communication; manager; mental health; risk