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Changing practice: Assessing attitudes toward a NICE-informed collaborative treatment pathway for bipolar disorder

Lookup NU author(s): Adele Elliott, Dr Stuart Watson, Dr Guy Dodgson

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.Background Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition, which can result in functional impairment despite medication. A large evidence base supports use of psychological therapies and structured care in the treatment of mood disorders, but these are rarely implemented. e-Pathways are digital structures that inform and record patient progress through a healthcare system, although these have not yet been used for bipolar disorder. Aims To assess the perceived benefits and costs associated with implementing a collaborative NICE-informed e-pathway for bipolar disorder. Method Healthcare professionals and people with bipolar disorder attended a workshop to share feedback on e-pathways. Data were collected through questionnaires (n = 26) and transcription of a focus group, analysed qualitatively by a framework analysis. Results Patients and healthcare professionals welcomed the development of an e-pathway for bipolar disorder. There were five elements to the framework: quality and delivery of care, patient-clinician collaboration, flexibility and adaptability, impact on staff and impact on healthcare services. Conclusions Identification of benefits and costs ensures that future development of e-pathways addresses concerns of healthcare professionals and people with bipolar disorder, which would be essential for successful implementation. Recommendations for this development include making e-pathways less complicated for patients, ensuring sufficient training and ensuring clinicians do not feel their skills become invalidated. Limitations of the study, and directions for future research, are discussed.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Elliott AL, Watson S, Dodgson G, Cohen-Tovee E, Ling J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BJPsych Open

Year: 2021

Volume: 7

Issue: 2

Pages: e64-e64

Online publication date: 08/03/2021

Acceptance date: 07/02/2021

Date deposited: 28/06/2021

ISSN (electronic): 2056-4724

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.22

DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.22

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