Defining Professionalism for Mental Health Services: A Rapid Systematic Review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Defining Professionalism for Mental Health Services

T2 - A Rapid Systematic Review

AU - Aylott, Lauren M.E.

AU - Tiffin, Paul A.

AU - Saad, Mona

AU - Llewellyn, Alexis R.

AU - Finn, Gabrielle M.

N1 - © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Background: Efforts have been made to define professionalism across the professions, yet little attention has been paid to the concept in mental health services, where patients’ needs differ to that in other healthcare specialties. Aims: To derive a definition of professionalism for mental health services using the existing literature. Method: A rapid, systematic review was conducted to identify empirical and non-empirical records that described professionalism in a mental health service context from 2006 to 2017. Studies were synthesised narratively using thematic analysis. Results: Seventy records were included in the review. Professionalism was described on two levels; at a societal level, a dynamic social contract between professions and society, and; at an individual level, having intrapersonal, interpersonal, and working professionalism. Utilising emerging themes, an operationalised definition of professionalism, suitable for a mental health service context was derived. Conclusions: Within mental health services, emphasis is placed on the interpersonal aspects of practice such as communication skills, maintaining boundaries and humanity. Themes relating to the vulnerability of patients and the challenge of supporting autonomy and choice whilst maintaining safety and acting in a client’s best interest are also evident. ‘Practical wisdom’ and a flexible approach to working are needed to manage these challenging situations.

AB - Background: Efforts have been made to define professionalism across the professions, yet little attention has been paid to the concept in mental health services, where patients’ needs differ to that in other healthcare specialties. Aims: To derive a definition of professionalism for mental health services using the existing literature. Method: A rapid, systematic review was conducted to identify empirical and non-empirical records that described professionalism in a mental health service context from 2006 to 2017. Studies were synthesised narratively using thematic analysis. Results: Seventy records were included in the review. Professionalism was described on two levels; at a societal level, a dynamic social contract between professions and society, and; at an individual level, having intrapersonal, interpersonal, and working professionalism. Utilising emerging themes, an operationalised definition of professionalism, suitable for a mental health service context was derived. Conclusions: Within mental health services, emphasis is placed on the interpersonal aspects of practice such as communication skills, maintaining boundaries and humanity. Themes relating to the vulnerability of patients and the challenge of supporting autonomy and choice whilst maintaining safety and acting in a client’s best interest are also evident. ‘Practical wisdom’ and a flexible approach to working are needed to manage these challenging situations.

KW - Mental health

KW - professional attributes

KW - professionalism

KW - skills

KW - systematic review

KW - values

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071632228&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/09638237.2018.1521933

DO - 10.1080/09638237.2018.1521933

M3 - Review article

C2 - 30501138

AN - SCOPUS:85071632228

VL - 28

SP - 546

EP - 565

JO - Journal of Mental Health

JF - Journal of Mental Health

SN - 0963-8237

IS - 5

ER -