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How to achieve a collaborative approach in health promotion: preferences and ideas of users of mental health services
Author(s) -
Pals Regitze Anne Saurbrey,
Hempler Nana Folmann
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12564
Subject(s) - mental health , health promotion , promotion (chess) , perception , health care , psychology , work (physics) , value (mathematics) , public relations , focus group , knowledge management , nursing , medical education , medicine , business , public health , computer science , engineering , political science , marketing , mechanical engineering , neuroscience , machine learning , politics , law , psychotherapist
Background Collaborative approaches to consensus building or decision‐making are beneficial in health‐promoting activities targeting users of mental health services (users). However, little is known about how to achieve a collaborative approach in practice. Aim The purpose of this study was to explore: (1) users’ preferences and ideas related to achieving a collaborative approach in health‐related communication and (2) perspectives of healthcare and social work professionals and family members on users’ ideas and preferences. Methods Data were collected through interactive workshops with users (n = 15), professionals (n = 21) and users’ family members (n = 12). Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Results Users provided three recommendations for establishing a collaborative approach in communication about health: (1) involving users in deciding the agenda and setting for health‐promoting activities; (2) exchanging knowledge between users and professionals about health and values; and (3) exploring users’ motivation for change. Users and professionals had diverging perceptions of the value of establishing a collaborative approach. Professionals regarded relationship building and health promotion as separate phenomena, whereas users perceived relationship building as inherently health promoting. Family members of users requested specific guidance and support with regard to clarifying and fulfilling the best possible support role as a family member. Conclusions The findings suggest that a collaborative approach in health promotion may be difficult to achieve without a focus on professional development for healthcare and social work professionals.