Trialling of the PinC system

The study was carried out to obtain consumers (of mental health services’) perceptions of the PinC system and to generate ideas for changes that might improve protocols and documentation related to the system.

The study was conducted in a community mental health clinic that serves a rural population. A three day education programme was carried out with the mental health nurse participants prior to the commencement of the study to assist them in operating the PinC system.

Interviews

Individual interviews were audio-taped and transcribed then analysed using thematic content analysis.

Focus Groups

Separate Focus Groups for nurses and clients were held to give participants the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Analysis

The analysis of interviews used techniques of thematic content analysis which allows the researcher to categorise and codify interview transcripts.

Outcome

One outcome was that the views of the participants reflected the perspective that the PinC system constitutes a radical change in mental health services delivery. There was a significant shift in the onus of responsibility away from the mental health service towards the service user, and offered a partnership with the service user as the major decision maker.

The second outcome reflected the perspective that the roles of both the nurse and service user were made clearer with the use of the PinC system. The PinC system also provided a structure which gave a greater focus on helping service users cope with their concerns; it validated nursing practice for nurses, as they were able to relate to the service user without making assumptions about their concerns and, most importantly, it required nurses to depend on the service user to give them the service users’ understanding of their concerns.

In conclusion, it has been shown that the PinC system offers a systematic way of implementing the philosophy and principles of the recovery model after the trial had been completed.

Quotes from participants about their use of PinC

‘It has changed my whole outlook to my disability I’m looking more at managing my illness than trying to get others to understand how bad it is for me’

‘It forces an attitudinal change which is not obvious to start with – I had to put the client’s needs as central rather than on the periphery’

‘I liked sitting down with the client and using their own words in the document, their concerns, their goals and strategies

‘I have a plan and I know what I am doing – instead of mental health imposing itself on me, telling me what is best for me.’

Participants in the trial talked about how the PinC system helped to promote the idea that both the client and the nurse are the experts in their respective fields.

‘It reverses the role, when the clinician works with the client to document their concerns, the client is in control not me. I typed up the forms for the client and then gave the paperwork to the client to read and they give their approval’.

While it is acknowledged that this initial research is useful in supporting the use of PinC, further development of PinC depends on additional research being undertaken into its use. Research may range from evaluation of outcomes to examination of the theoretical basis for the system.

Read more about Trialling of the Partnership in Coping System here.