Individual and Needs-Based: The Platform-Model for Personnel Allocation in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Abstract

Abstract. Objective: An initiative by scientific societies of psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and further associations established the Platform-Model for the development of a needs-based system for adequate personnel allocation in psychiatric inpatient and day clinic units. We present the development of the instrument and a pilot study to identify feasibility and limitations. Methods: The basis of the study was a threefold methodological approach. Paradigmatic case vignettes adequately reflecting symptomatology and circumstances were described and validated, working profiles were generated and validated, and a matrix representing different needs-based dimensions was developed. Through reference date surveys, patients were assigned to needs-based clusters and Psych-PV categories. The required treatment effort under consideration of guidelines or expert consensus was estimated in several rounds of expert panels (Delphi method). Results: The pilot study proves the feasibility of the Platform-Model. Methodological findings as well as limitations of the model were identified in order to further develop the Platform-Model. Conclusions: The Platform-Model cannot serve as a tool to describe clinical pathways, but it appears to be an adequate and practical tool for assessment of the required staffing level based on patient needs independent of diagnosis and setting.

Caracterización Epidemiológica de los Pacientes de la Clínica Ambulatoria del Departamento de Psiquiatría de la Infancia y la Adolescencia de un Hospital Universitario de Paraguay: Estudio Trienal

“…Conocer los diagnósticos más frecuentes en esta población es esencial para proporcionar servicios de salud mental de calidad, eficaces y específicos (29,30) . Además, la comprensión de las características epidemiológicas de los pacientes de consulta externa es crucial para mejorar la asignación y distribución de recursos en los servicios de salud mental (31) y puede ayudar a identificar las necesidades de la población pediátrica y sus familias (32) . Por último, nuestros resultados pueden servir de insumo para la realización de estudios que permitan evaluar las herramientas de cribado y la eficacia de los procedimientos diagnósticos en la identificación de problemas de salud mental en niños y adolescentes (33) , así como para la valoración del impacto de factores externos, como los antecedentes de violencia interpersonal, abuso y trauma, en la gravedad de los síntomas psiquiátricos entre los pacientes jóvenes (34) .…”