Citation

Beentjes TAA, van Gaal BGI, van Achterberg T, Goossens PJJ. J. Am. Psychiatr. Nurs. Assoc. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Peter J. J. Goossens, PhD, APRN, RN, FEANS, Dimence Group Mental Health Care Centre, Deventer, the Netherlands; University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1078390319877953

PMID

31578904

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The development of de-hospitalization policies in mental health has resulted in a growing emphasis on self-management. In the chronic care model, self-management support is an essential element. Because of the episodic nature of severe mental illness (SMI) and its high relapse rates, we assume that the extent of self-management support needs of individuals with an SMI is considerable. However, a clear overview of the nature of the self-management support needs of persons with SMI is missing. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify self-management support needs from the perspective of individuals with SMI. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted using the method of thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. After searching the databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE, we screened the papers for the eligibility criteria: individuals with an SMI, adequately representing the voice of persons with SMI and describing their self-management support needs. Thirty-one papers were included. RESULTS: The main findings showed that participants in the studies described the need for informational support, emotional support, acknowledgment, encouragement, and guidance to make sense of their illness experiences, ease suffering, obtain validation and recognition, execute self-management tasks, and be led through unfamiliar territory. CONCLUSION: The perspectives of persons with SMI can provide a road map for constructing a self-management support intervention for persons with SMI. Important others have an essential role in fulfilling support needs. Independently managing an SMI is difficult. Therefore, it is preferable to let important others participate in self-management interventions and to introduce peer support.

Language: en

Keywords

qualitative research; self-management; severe mental disorders; support needs; systematic review