Exploring perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in child mental health care

PURPOSE: This paper proposes a tentative theoretical model (PINCOM) and a measure of mental health and school professionals' perception of interprofessional collaboration (IPC). THEORY: The model is based on twelve constructs derived from a pilot study, organizational and social psychology. The main aim of the model is to capture central aspects of IPC. METHOD: A forty-eight item self-report questionnaire (PINCOM-Q) was designed to explore professionals' perceptions of IPC. The sample (n=134) included professionals who worked in primary care, specialist services and in elementary schools. Exploratory factor analyses and reliability testing were conducted to reduce the large number of variables in the questionnaire. RESULTS: Results indicate that central aspects of IPC in the context of service delivery and case work are: interprofessional climate, organizational culture, organizational aims, professional power, group leadership and motivation. CONCLUSION: Preliminary empirical testing of the questionnaire demonstrated that it is possible to measure perceptions of IPC, with reasonable levels of construct validity and reliability. DISCUSSION: Further, revision of the questionnaire is discussed to make it fit for use in large scale studies with the purpose of enhancing (a) the validity of the PINCOM model, and (b) the quality of mental health services that are based on IPC

Interprofessional collaboration concerning persons in transition between mental health and criminal justice services : PINCOM used as a framework for HCR-20V3 assessment

This chapter provides a novel framework for risk assessment and management by combining the Perception of Interprofessional Collaboration Model (PINCOM) and Historical-Clinical-Risk Management-20, Version 3 (HCR-20V3). PINCOM was developed to identify central aspects of interprofessional collaboration, whereas HCR-20V3 is the most used instrument in risk assessment of violence worldwide. The main scope of this chapter is to introduce and discuss the feasibility of combining the two tools to enhance collaboration between service providers in the mental health and criminal justice systems. First, we describe the HCR-20V3 and suggest how parts of it can be jointly used as a tool for concrete collaboration in the practice field. Next, we present the PINCOM tool, containing a conceptual model (PINCOM) and a research methodology (PINCOM-Q). It is suggested that the HCR-20V3 serves as a meeting point between different professionals for being concrete in joint casework. PINCOM can then be used within a larger social innovation framework and as a reflective tool during or after this structured professional assessment and acting as a catalyser for constructive collaboration.publishedVersio

Core competences : a mixed methods study of biomedical laboratory scientists in Norway

Background: This study describes how a sample of Norwegian biomedical laboratory scientists perceive their profession's core competences. Method: An explorative sequential mixed method was conducted based on two rounds of data collection and includes qualitative and quantitative data. In a pilot study, seven biomedical laboratory scientists, from a middle-sized and a smaller hospital, contributed in a qualitative research interview. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed. In a main study, a questionnaire containing 36 statements was developed to investigate the biomedical laboratory scientists’ perceptions of their core competences. The questionnaire was forwarded to a random selection of 2000 biomedical laboratory scientists. A total of 587 respondents completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 29.3 per cent. Results and conclusion: The results of the interviews showed that biomedical laboratory scientists perceived their core competences as basically related to analyses and the quality of biomedical laboratory work. The data analysis of the responses from the survey revealed seven factors describing core competences in biomedical laboratory processes. The factors include pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic competence, in addition to co-mentoring skills and collaborative competence. Keywords: quality, analysis, core competence, biomedical laboratory scientist, collaborative competenceacceptedVersio

Developing a training program for collaborative practices between criminal justice and mental health services : the gap between intentions and reality

The main aim of the present chapter is to contribute to an elaboration of central issues and possibilities for developing a training programme to improve collaboration between the criminal justice system (CJS) and mental health services (MHS). A theoretical framework rooted in social innovation (SI) and communities of practice is used to reflect upon the gap between initial plans and real time practice and the learning that took place. Three episodes from the EU funded project named COLAB are presented and analysed.publishedVersio

Improving collaboration between professionals supporting mentally ill offenders

Purpose Interprofessional collaboration is necessary when supporting mentally ill offenders but little is understood of these interactions. This paper explores prison officers’ perceptions of current and desirable levels of interprofessional collaboration (relational coordination – RC) to understand how collaboration between these systems can be improved. Design/methodology/approach Gittell’s RC scale was administered to prison officers within the Norwegian prison system (n=160) using an adaptation of the instrument in which actual and desired levels of RC are evaluated. This differentiates between prison officers’ expectations of optimum levels of collaboration with other professional groups, dependent on the role function and codependence, versus actual levels of collaboration. Findings Prison officers reported different RC levels across professional groups, the lowest being with specialist mental health staff and prison doctors and highest with nurses, social workers and other prison officers. Significant differences between desired and actual RC levels suggest expertise of primary care staff is insufficient, as prison officers request much greater contact with mental health specialists when dealing with the mentally ill offender. Originality/value The paper contributes to limited literature on collaborative practice between prison and health care professionals. It questions the advisability of enforcing care pathways that promote the lowest level of effective care in the prison system and suggest ways in which mental health specialists might be better integrated into the prison system. It contributes to the continued debate on how mental health services should be integrated into the prison system, suggesting that the current import model used in Norway and other countries, may not be conducive to generating the close professional relationships required between mental health and prison staff.submittedVersio

A conceptual model on reintegration after prison in Norway

Many offenders struggle when attempting to reintegrate into society after release from prison, and the conditions they face after release often lead to reoffending. Internationally, there is limited understanding about how to improve these conditions and thereby reduce recidivism rates. In particular, offenders’ own perspectives on the challenges they face and how to overcome these are absent. This paper presents a conceptual model that has the potential to guide practitioners in their understanding of the relationships between welfare services and the agency of the offender. The model was developed from a small-scale study in the Norwegian Criminal Justice system, which is well known for its emphasis on rehabilitation and crime prevention. Data collection aimed to explore the reintegration process from the perspective of the hard-to-reach and vulnerable population of serial offenders. Nine prisoners in two different prisons were interviewed. A thematic analysis identified two main themes that related, first, the personal challenges offenders faced in the rehabilitation and reintegration process and, second, factors in the welfare services that interacted with the prisoners’ psychosocial issues in the Keywords reintegration process. Findings suggest that the interaction between the psychosocial needs of prisoners and organization of welfare services is complex and not harmonized. The model developed from the insights of this study can serve as a reflective and analytical tool for developing new approaches to support offenders in their reintegration into society from prison in the future. The model underpins the argument that current reintegration strategies for prisoners needs to be questioned and challenged. Keywords: reintegration, social innovation, interagency collaboration, reoffenders, welfare services, Norway.acceptedVersio

Kunnskapsutvikling og innovasjon i grenseflaten mellom utdanning og praksis

Kapittelet beskriver et undervisningsopplegg for sosionomstudenter (bachelor) ved Universitetet i Stavanger hvor de deltok i forskningsbasert kunnskapsproduksjon mens de var i praksisutplassering i 4. semester. Vi presenterer dette som et eksempel på samskaping i kunnskapsutvikling og diskuterer det i lys av teori og begreper knyttet til innovasjon. Sentrale tema er sosial innovasjon, samskaping og innovasjonskompetanse. Avslutningsvis trekker vi fram betydningen av etisk refleksjon knyttet til innovasjonsprosessen. Nøkkelord: bachelorstudenter, forskningsbasert kunnskapsproduksjon, innovasjonskompetanse, samskaping, sosial innovasjon, sosialt arbeidpublishedVersio

Factor analytical examination of the evidence-based practice beliefs scale : indications of a two factor structure

Background: Promotion of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in nursing appears to be developing slowly. Research indicates that nurses’ beliefs in EBP may play an even more significant role than knowledge and resources in making implementation feasible. To address this issue, measurement of nurses’ beliefs regarding EBP is paramount. Aims and objectives: This study explores the internal consistency reliability and the construct factor structure of the Norwegian version of the original Evidence- Based Practice Beliefs Scale (EBP-BS). Methods: The study has a Non-experimental exploratory survey design. A Norwegian translation of the EBP-BS was tested in a convenience sample of 118 healthcare professionals (95% nurses) attending a continuing education program at a University College in Norway. The response rate was 95% (n = 112). The internal consistency of the scale was measured by Cronbach’s alpha, and an explorative Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to explore the construct structure. Results: The overall internal consistency of the EBP-BS was acceptable. The PCA indicated a four-factor structure. The psychometric properties of two of the factors were too weak for expanding to a four-factor model. Based on our investigation of the EBP-BS, we suggest a two-factor structure model. The factors were named 1) General knowledge and confidence concerning EBP and 2) Task specific beliefs in EBP. This finding differs from previous results that indicated a unidimensional structure. Conclusion: As a starting point, reliable and valid measurement of nurses’ beliefs about EBP is required in order to identify possible obstacles and to optimize implementation in the individual clinical setting. Our results indicate that the EBP-BS has a two-factor structure. Further exploration of the factor structure is needed. Further empirical research may contribute to the resolving of controversies concerning basic understandings of the concept of EBP. Keywords: evidence-based practice, beliefs scale, nurses, Psychometric Evaluation, Principal component analysispublishedVersio

Interprofessional Collaboration in Reintegration After Prison for Prisoners with Substance Abuse Issues: A Scoping Review

Reintegration after prison for prisoners with interlinked welfare needs has been one of the most challenging issues for decades in the criminal justice system. The WHO and the UN highlight the demand for well-functioning collaboration between professionals and welfare agencies handling these challenges. However, interprofessional collaboration has been an underdeveloped field of research and theory, especially concerning prisoners with substance abuse issues. The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on interprofessional collaboration in reintegration after prison for prisoners with substance abuse issues, particularly identifying factors that influence collaboration. Nineteen included studies from the USA, the U.K., Australia, and Norway show that relational and structural factors influence collaboration and that innovative projects are perceived as improving collaboration. A tentative conceptual model of factors that influence collaboration is presented and may serve as a basis for reflection and further development of a theoretical framework within the field of research