Runtime: 2016 - 2018
Client: Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd (Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate)
Project description
Involving patients and families in mental healthcare is becoming more commonplace, but little is known about how they are involved in the aftermath of serious adverse events related to quality of care. In this project we explore the role patients and families have in formal processes after such events in Dutch mental healthcare. We analyze the existing policies of 15 healthcare organizations and interview 35 stakeholders including patients, families, their counselors, the national regulator and professionals.
Respondents argue that involving patients and families is valuable to help deal with the event emotionally, provide additional information and prevent escalation. Results indicate that involving patients and families is only described in sentinel event policies to a limited extent. In practice, involvement consists mostly of providing aftercare and sharing information about the event by providers. Complexities such as privacy concerns and involuntary admissions are said to hinder involvement. Respondents also emphasize that it should not be obligatory, and stress the need for patients and families to be involved throughout the process of treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for involving patients and families after sentinel events. The first step seems to be early involvement during treatment process itself.
Team
ESHPM: Dr. Bert de Graaff, Dr. Hester van de Bovenkamp.
NIVEL: Dr. R. Bouwman, Dr. D. de Beurs, Prof. dr. R. Friele.
Activities
Presentations: Naasten betrekken bij calamiteitenonderzoek, invited talk, IGJ, Utrecht, 13/02/2018.
Publications
- R. Bouwman, M.B. de Graaff, D. de Beurs, H. van de Bovenkamp & R. Friele (2018). Calamiteitenonderzoek in de Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg - Het betrekken van patiënten en hun naasten of nabestaanden bij calamiteitenonderzoek in de Geestelijke Gezondheidzorg. NIVEL, Utrecht & EHSPM, Rotterdam, March 2018 (in Dutch - report in which we detail our findings to the IGJ, an English-language paper is currently under review).
- Renée Bouwman, Bert De Graaff, Derek de Beurs, Hester Van de Bovenkamp, Ian Leistikow and Roland Friele. Involving Patients and Families in the Analysis of Suicides, Suicide Attempts, and Other Sentinel Events in Mental Healthcare: A Qualitative Study in The Netherlands (2018). Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam.