Clients as mediators of interprofessional collaboration in mental health services in Iran

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has long been identified as a way of providing optimal mental health services (MHS). It is important, therefore, to identify and facilitate factors driving IPC. This paper presents health professionals' experiences and perceptions regarding the clients' role as a driving factor for IPC in MHS in an Iranian context. Health professionals included nurses, physicians (general physicians and medical specialists), psychologists and consultants. Qualitative methods were employed in the form of in-depth individual interviews and focus groups to collect data from 24 professionals and 4 clients. Data analysis generated four key themes: “Clients as axis of IPC”, “Seamless services as a common incentive for IPC”, “Clients as a common interprofessional linkage” and “Clients as a driving force to achieve IPC”. From the professionals' perspective, it was found that clients had a mediating role in their collaborative relationships and practices. These findings are discussed in relation to the interprofessional literature. This paper goes on to argue that professionals need to be aware of and be trained about how to manage, as well as benefit from, the clients' fundamental role in IPC.

Keywords::

• Client
• interprofessional collaboration
• Iran
• mental health services
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants who kindly assisted them to conduct interviews and to Professor Hugh Barr who advised them in this study.

Declaration of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.