An Interview Study with Professionals on Shared Decision-Making in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

Shared Decision-Making (SDM) is a paradigm that involves collaboration between healthcare professionals and service users to reach decisions jointly. This approach is based on the exchange of information, identification of service users’ values and preferences, analysis of treatment options, and consensus on an action plan. The present study aims to explore the beliefs and attitudes of mental health professionals regarding this model, in a context where its implementation has not yet begun in services for children and adolescents but is starting in the adult mental health system. A qualitative investigation was conducted through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eleven mental health professionals including social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. While SDM offers potential benefits, its implementation entails a series of requirements, limitations, and dilemmas that must be addressed. In the child and adolescent context, it is particularly complex to establish specific ages for applying this model and to determine in which situations it is appropriate. The adoption of SDM would represent a significant advancement that could contribute to improving the experience of service users and align with social work values of empowerment and person-centred care.