Family member's expectation of the psychiatric healthcare professionals' approach towards them

Abstract

The importance of involving family members in the care of individuals with schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses has received increasing attention within psychiatric healthcare services. However, several studies suggest that family members often experience a lack of involvement. Furthermore, research indicates that family members' experience of the professional's approach has bearing on whether they feel involved or not. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the level of importance that the family members of individuals with schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses ascribe to the professionals' approach, the level of agreement between their experiences and what they consider as important, and aspects they consider to be important with regards to contact with professionals. Seventy family members from various parts of Sweden participated. Data were collected by the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire and open-ended questions. The median level and quartiles were used to describe the distribution, and percentage agreement was analysed. Open-ended questions were analysed by qualitative content analysis. The results reveal that the majority of the participants consider Openness, Confirmation, and Cooperation as important aspects of a professional's approach. Continuity emerged as an additional aspect. The results show a low level of agreement between the participants' experience and what they consider as important.

A Lonely Life Journey Bordered with Struggle: Being a Sibling of an Individual with Psychosis

“…There is a significant relationship between family members' experience of the health care professionals' approach and their feeling of being alienated from the care provided (Ewertzon, Lützén, Svensson, & Andershed, 2010). Furthermore, there is a discrepancy between the experience of the interaction from health care professionals and the family's expectations of the interaction (Ewertzon et al, 2011). These results indicate the need to develop a new, caring, approach, such as one guided by a perspective that is based on the client's life-world and experiences (Todres, Galvin, & Dahlberg, 2007).…”

“…Although siblings express a need for support (Hatfield & Lefley, 2005;Sin et al, 2008), they experience a lack of communication with health care professionals, such as not being provided with pertinent information (Barnable et al, 2006) and not being listened to (Lukens et al, 2002). Other studies with family members of individuals with severe mental illness indicate that they experience an approach from health care professionals that is not in accordance with their expectations (Ewertzon et al, 2011).…”

Experiences of the psychiatric specialist health services – The perspective of relatives of inpatients with severe depression

“…Kim states that the relationship should be characterized by a sensitivity, mutual communication and understanding of the client needs according to their situation. This may be in accordance with achieving content continuity, which Ewertzon et al [39] described as creating confidence and mutual information about the patient's condition and consideration of treatment and care. Because the relatives often perceive the situation differently from the mental health professionals, bringing up relatives' perceptions of the person's depression enables the possibility to agree on a common goal.…”

“…mental health personnel knowing the patient, was also highlighted in the present study. Ewertson et al [39] described this as individual continuity, which in our study refers to encountering a nurse who knows the person with depression and who follows up throughout the course of the treatment. A smooth flow of information between the different levels of treating institutions and therapists may be secured through a responsible nurse.…”

Teaching Care and Cooperation with Relatives: Video as a Learning Tool in Mental Health Work

“…Openness, confirmation, cooperation, and continuity are important aspects of working with relatives (Ewertzon, Andershed, Svensson, & Lutzen, 2011). Consequently, it is important in a clinical training program not only to develop and expand knowledge, but also to improve sensitivity and empathy for both patients and families.…”