Critical appraisal skills programme casp appraisal tools
Statement of significance
The background presents all the issues that the MHN face. To begin with, the curricula is insufficient, minimum opportunities in public sector, the traditional perception of nurses as managing wards, shortage of workforce in mental health units and underestimation of use of specialized mental health skills made an appropriate backdrop for taking a research study upon the percepton of MHN employed in a regional mental health unit [(Retnoul et al; 1991)( Atashzadeh-Shoorideh; 2018)]. The study was in the form of an interview with more of open ended questions which was reviewed in detail by two investigators and evaluated for to share their varied experiences and perspectives.
Yes. Although, the title is not very clear, the abstract clarifies the topic of the research which is about the experiences of eight mental health nurses working in admitted patients recovery settings noted as interviews. The term ‘therapists’ is a very broad term and gives a vague impression of the study. Instead, “Experiences of MHN delivering talk based therapy in rehabilitation settings: A phenomenological study” would have been more appropriate. The research question is visibly specified in the text as “What are the experiences of MHN clinicians in offering talk-based therapies in inpatient rehabilitation setting?” The study seems appropriate as the MHN have received limited acknowledgement of their work [(Sebergsen et al; 2016)( Cleary 2012).
Is a qualitative methodology appropriate?
Yes. This was the best way possible. The patients received all the information via mail and then they were invited for the interview. Thus they were well informed about the agenda [(Feng 2018)(Roldán‐Merino (2017)]. However, the sample size was small and there is also a possibility of some bias due to the selection of a single regional mental health division.
Was the data collected in a way that addressed the research issue?
The study was been sanctioned by two ethical committees. The contributors were clinical staff from a mental health organization who were requested for the interviews with a Patient data sheet ailed to them. Thus, their appearance for the interview was itself their consent [(Hem et al; 2018)(Koivisto et al; 2001)]. The contributors were clearly educated about the aim and the various aspects of the research through the mailed sheet. Thus, the participants were completely aware of the research.
Was the data analysis sufficiently rigorous?
The finding is valuable in appreciating the issues of MHN right from the absence of the correct reinforcement in the undergraduate study material to the lack of government policies and the dilemma they face in an inpatient setting serving as both an MHN and a registered nurse. The research involved explorative questioning in such a way that there was reflective contemplation by the participant for deeper understanding and better data collection(Dicken; 2019). In the study by Light E. et al, thirty-eight contributors took part in interviews including patients, carers, Mental Health Review Tribunal members, and clinicians participated thus adding more reliability to the results.
Recommendations for practice
Antai-Otong, D. (2003). Psychosocial rehabilitation. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 38(1), 151-160.
Killaspy, H., Fitch, C., Meier, R., & Kalidindi, S. (2012). Guidance for commissioners of rehabilitation services for people with complex mental health needs.
Stomski, N. J., & Morrison, P. (2017). Participation in mental healthcare: a qualitative meta-synthesis. International journal of mental health systems, 11(1), 67.
Sebergsen, K., Norberg, A., & Talseth, A. G. (2016). Confirming mental health care in acute psychiatric wards, as narrated by persons experiencing psychotic illness: an interview study. BMC nursing, 15(1), 3.
Feng, D., Li, H., Meng, L., & Zhong, G. (2018). Development of a Questionnaire to Assess Nursing Competencies for the Care of People with Psychiatric Disabilities in a Hospital Environment. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(3), 699-706.
Roldán‐Merino, J., Lluch‐Canut, M. T., Casas, I., Sanromà‐Ortíz, M., Ferré‐Grau, C., Sequeira, C., & Puig‐Llobet, M. (2017). Reliability and validity of the positive mental health questionnaire in a sample of Spanish university students. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 24(2-3), 123-133.
Eldal, K., Natvik, E., Veseth, M., Davidson, L., Skjølberg, Å., Gytri, D., & Moltu, C. (2019). Being recognised as a whole person: A qualitative study of inpatient experience in mental health. Issues in mental health nursing, 40(2), 88-96.
Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. Sage.
Clarke, L. (2007). Reading Mental Health Nursing: Education, Research, Ethnicity and Power. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Jenkins, R. (2003). Supporting governments to adopt mental health policies. World Psychiatry, 2(1), 14.