Patient and public involvement in integrated psychosocial care

Abstract

Purpose Recent models of care incorporate service user involvement within the development and sustainability of a quality improvement project. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the significance of working with patients and members of the public for the integration of psychosocial care into long-term condition (LTC) management. Design/methodology/approach Research shows that mental health difficulties are more prevalent in people with LTC. The three Dimensions for Long-term Conditions (3DLC) is a patient-centred multidisciplinary service which integrates psychological and social care into the usual physical care. Thematic analysis was conducted on the discussions of the two patient and public involvement workshops that were facilitated by the service. The workshops included healthcare professionals, patients with LTC and their carers. Findings Several themes and subthemes emerged which highlighted the importance of discussing and treating mental health in a physical health setting, the challenges that both the patients and healthcare professionals encounter and the ways in which an integrated care service may address these barriers. The findings show that there was an emphasis on patient-centeredness, accessibility of services and the need for better communication. Practical implications People with LTC can be empowered to better self-manage their condition, whilst having access to all types of care, physical, social and psychological. By involving service users in the implementation process of the 3DLC service, the components of an effective integrated service are delineated. Originality/value The service users have identified barriers and facilitators of integrating a biopsychosocial model in care pathways. This has helped the 3DLC team to further develop the model to ensure improvements in condition-specific outcomes, quality of life and healthcare utilisation.