OBJECTIVE: Integration of mental health services is a prominent Australian mental health policy goal; however, there is little detail in the literature of how integrated mental health services are established or function. This study aimed to describe a nurse practitioner-led primary healthcare rural mental health service and evidence of how the service was integrated with other services and the community. DESIGN: This pragmatic exploratory study used case study methodology and analysed documents, quantitative data and qualitative data from individual and group semi-structured interviews and a 'stakeholder meeting'. The study was part of a formal evaluation of this nurse practitioner service. SETTING: Rural New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one service providers and stakeholders. INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of a nurse practitioner led mental health service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: Purposely sampled participants were interviewed. Documentary evidence included briefing notes, minutes and progress reports and provided important background information. Non-identifiable aggregated client data were analysed. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data produced a description of how and why the service was established, a description of the service and its impact and three analytic themes providing evidence of integration. Challenges to integrating this service are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The service was highly regarded. It addressed the drug and alcohol and mental health needs of a vulnerable rural community. The inception and implementation of the service were community driven, led by a number of agencies supported by a steering committee and underpinned by a Partnership Agreement. The service demonstrated key features of integration alongside experiencing challenges in optimising integration with acute mental health services.
OBJECTIVE: Integration of mental health services is a prominent Australian mental health policy goal; however, there is little detail in the literature of how integrated mental health services are established or function. This study aimed to describe a nurse practitioner-led primary healthcare rural mental health service and evidence of how the service was integrated with other services and the community. DESIGN: This pragmatic exploratory study used case study methodology and analysed documents, quantitative data and qualitative data from individual and group semi-structured interviews and a 'stakeholder meeting'. The study was part of a formal evaluation of this nurse practitioner service. SETTING: Rural New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one service providers and stakeholders. INTERVENTIONS: Introduction of a nurse practitioner led mental health service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: Purposely sampled participants were interviewed. Documentary evidence included briefing notes, minutes and progress reports and provided important background information. Non-identifiable aggregated client data were analysed. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data produced a description of how and why the service was established, a description of the service and its impact and three analytic themes providing evidence of integration. Challenges to integrating this service are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The service was highly regarded. It addressed the drug and alcohol and mental health needs of a vulnerable rural community. The inception and implementation of the service were community driven, led by a number of agencies supported by a steering committee and underpinned by a Partnership Agreement. The service demonstrated key features of integration alongside experiencing challenges in optimising integration with acute mental health services.
Authors: Edith K Wakida; Celestino Obua; Godfrey Z Rukundo; Samuel Maling; Zohray M Talib; Elialilia S Okello Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2018-11-26 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Edith K Wakida; Elialilia S Okello; Godfrey Z Rukundo; Dickens Akena; Paul E Alele; Zohray M Talib; Celestino Obua Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2019-03-22
Authors: Edith K Wakida; Dickens Akena; Elialilia S Okello; Alison Kinengyere; Ronald Kamoga; Arnold Mindra; Celestino Obua; Zohray M Talib Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2017-08-25
Authors: David Crompton; Jane Shakespeare-Finch; Gerard FitzGerald; Peter Kohleis; Ross Young Journal: Prehosp Disaster Med Date: 2022-10 Impact factor: 2.866