Professionals' Perspective on Needs of Persons Who Frequently Use Psychiatric Emergency Services

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Mar;41(3):182-193. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1663565. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Abstract

This study explores how professionals experience persons who frequently use psychiatric emergency services (PES) in terms of their needs in Sweden. The data comprise 19 semi-structured individual interviews and one focus group interview with healthcare professionals (i.e., assistant nurses, psychiatric nurses, intern physicians, and resident physicians), which are analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The overall findings suggest that persons who frequently use PES suffer from illness, unfavorable life circumstances, and inadequate care, which together emphasize the need for more sustainable support. The findings indicate that the professionals saw beyond illness-related needs and could also acknowledge patients' needs originating from social, existential, and care- and support-related aspects of life.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Emergency Services, Psychiatric*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Health Services Needs and Demand*
  • Hope
  • Humans
  • Loneliness
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / complications
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Qualitative Research
  • Sweden