A better understanding of the views of service users has become increasingly relevant in providing mental health services and for the role of the mental health nurse in meeting users' needs. The four key issues that this research endeavoured to address were: (1) What are the views and perceived needs of users of mental health services in the context of the role that users see nurses fulfilling? (2) How do student nurses perceive their future role given the changes in nurse prepartion? (3) To what extent do the answers to the first two questions converge and/or diverge? (4) Recommend actions on ways in which mental health nurse training could be improved, in light of the findings of this research. Methodologically, both qualitative and quantitative data gathering approaches were used, the former for stage one in setting the agenda and the latter for stage two by means of questionnaires. The findings indicate that the key concerns for users are issues of choice, individuality, information and quality of care in terms of positive interpersonal relationships with those who have responsibilities for helping them and who are sensitive to their real needs. Users are not asking for any costly or extravagant therapies but support that is relevant to their needs and provided in a compassionate manner. The context of their lives and the degree to which users feel integrated into society is a prominent concern. These findings have implications for how mental health nurses are educated and trained and how on qualifying they function in practice. The findings throw into question whether mental health nursing can adapt to the desired changes that are being called for.

This article provides an insight into the philosophical assumptions underpinning evidence-based practice (EBP). Lois Goding and Keith Edwards believe that EBP has often been adopted within nursing, midwifery and health visiting without careful consideration of the nature of such evidence. This article explores the issues surrounding different research methodologies and methods, in particular the dichotomous relationships between positivism, constructivism and postmodernism. The authors believe that nursing involves complex, intangible human behaviour that demands an interpretative, holistic approach investigating perceptions rather than a reductionist approach.

SUMMARYIn 1989 a study was undertaken to examine the costs of hospital services in Papua New Guinea. A total of 13 of the country's 19 provincial hospitals were surveyed. In addition, data were collected on key indicators of the quality of service provided by each hospital. These selected indicators provide a measure of the quality of administration and management, patient care, buildings and equipment and essential drugs in hospitals. Weaknesses in management and administration were found in all hospitals. Deficits were also found in other important areas. The use of a simple scoring system enabled the identification of those hospitals falling short of expected levels of quality. This paper presents a description of the performance of the surveyed hospitals over a range of indicators, discusses the implications of the findings and suggests further work to develop a regular quality-assurance programme in hospitals.

This paper is a preliminary study, part of a larger project which is endeavouring to ascertain the views of both users of mental health services and those of mental health branch students as to their perceived and desired role of the mental health nurse. Four groups of users (n = 28) and four groups of students (n = 44) were contacted, and recorded group discussions took place in gaining qualitative data that would feed into the main body of research. The views expressed by both users and students are interestingly convergent, but much concern was expressed as to the needed changes in the provision of the service and the danger for students on qualifying to become quickly incorporated into the prevailing dominant culture.