Case Management in Early Psychosis Intervention Programme: Perspectives of Clients, Caregivers and Case Managers
Poster B140, Friday, October 21, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Horng Hien Peter Wong1, Yee Huei Yong2, Mythily Subramaniam3, Zheng Yuan Christopher Loh4, Helen Lee5, Xuelin Charlene Hon6, Janhavi Vaingankar7, Shazana Mohamed Shahwan8, Edimansyah Abdin9; 1Senior Case Manager, Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (epip), Singapore, 2Case Manager, Epip, Singapore, 3Director, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, 4Senior Case Manager, Epip, Singapore, 5Principal Case Manager, Epip, Singapore, 6Case Manager, Epip, Singapore, 7Senior Manager, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, 8Research Officer, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, 9Senior Biostatician, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
Case management in mental health care was introduced in the 1960s in the United States of America following de-institutionalization of persons with mental illness from hospital to the community. Case management is now becoming an integral part of health care services in many parts of the world including Singapore. Studies have shown that case management can contribute to better client outcomes such as improving social functioning and increasing clients’ satisfaction. There is however scarcity in research in case management in the field of first episode psychosis. The Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in Singapore was initiated in April 2001 and the EPIP case managers are pioneers in case management in mental healthcare in Singapore. In June 2015, a qualitative study was undertaken to elicit perspectives of clients, caregivers and case managers on EPIP case management. 11 focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted from July 2015 to January 2016 (6 FGD with clients, 3 FGD with caregivers and 2 FGD with Case Managers). All FGDs were transcribed and data was analysed using thematic analysis. This presentation will focus on our clients’ perspectives on case management which include the emerging themes of support, holistic monitoring, bridging role, patient-centered care, collaboration, crisis management, advocacy, psychoeducation and therapeutic alliance. Clients’ suggestions and recommendations to improve case management will also be shared. This presentation will be useful to other early psychosis programmes with a case management model and to those who plan to start a case management service in health care.
Topic Area: Psychosocial Interventions