Contextual barriers to the successful implementation of family-centered practice in mental health care: a Hong Kong study.

This article presents findings from an exploratory study to identify nurses' perspectives on factors that hinder the implementation of family-centered practice in mental health settings in Hong Kong. Thirty-four nurses participated in the study by completing the pre- and post-questionnaires. Ten nurses were invited to participate in focus group and case interviews. The analysis identified knowledge-practice gap, role of psychiatric nurses, professional identity of psychiatric nurses, and management support as negatively affecting the nurses in implementing a family-centered approach to mental health care. Suggestions about facilitating the implementation of the family-centered approach into clinical practice are offered.