Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28115031›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2018

An evaluation of communication barriers and facilitators at the time of a mental health diagnosis: a survey of health professional practices.

A C Milton, B Mullan, C MacCann, C Hunt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

A C MiltonSchool of Psychology,The University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia.
B MullanHealth Psychology and Behavioural Medicine Research Group, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology,Curtin University,Perth,Australia.
C MacCannSchool of Psychology,The University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia.
C HuntSchool of Psychology,The University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo examine health professionals' views and practices relating to the specific barriers to communication that arise at the time of mental health diagnosis, and the strategies used to support individuals throughout this process.

methodsAn online survey of the beliefs and practices of 131 mental health clinicians working in different clinical settings across Australia was conducted.

resultsExploratory factor analysis of the items relating to barriers to communication resulted in three latent factors ('stigma, diagnosis and risk'; 'service structure'; and 'individual circumstances' such as the person receiving the diagnosis being young, having a culturally and linguistically diverse background or being unwell at the time of conversation). Using linear regression it was found that variance in 'stigma, diagnosis and risk' was significantly explained by whether participating clinicians had medical training, their experience working with serious mental health problems, their confidence handling distress and attitude towards diagnosis. Variance in 'individual circumstances' was significantly explained by participating clinicians' confidence handling distress. The most frequently used strategies to support diagnostic discussions centred on the health professionals' communication skills, gauging the individual's perception of their circumstances, responding with empathy, following-up after discussion, addressing stigma concerns, using collaborative practice and setting up for the conversation.

conclusionsThree main areas for health professionals to reflect on, plan for and ultimately address when discussing news with the individual concerned emerged ('stigma, diagnosis and risk'; 'service structure'; and 'individual circumstances'). Variations in practice indicate that practitioners should be cognisant of their own beliefs and background and how this impacts their communication practice.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCommunicationCommunication BarriersMental Health ServicesPhysician-Patient RelationsSocial StigmaAdultAustraliaEmpathyFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansMaleMental DisordersMental HealthSurveys and QuestionnairesCommunicationhealth service deliverypatient-provider relationshipsstigma

Identifiers

PMID28115031
PMCPMC6998863

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.