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Mental Health Admissions to Paediatric Wards Study (MAPS): protocol of a prospective study of mental health admissions to paediatric wards in England using surveillance and qualitative methods.

Authors :
Hudson LD
Vázquez-Vázquez A
Gibson F
Phillips K
Mathews G
Roberts H
Cornaglia F
Roland D
Ward J
Nicholls DE
Elphinstone H
Viner R
Source :
BMJ paediatrics open [BMJ Paediatr Open] 2024 Jan 25; Vol. 8 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 25.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Introduction: Children and young people (CYP) presenting with a mental health (MH) crisis are frequently admitted to general acute paediatric wards as a place of safety. Prior to the pandemic, a survey in England showed that CYP occupied 6% of general paediatric inpatient beds due to an MH crisis, and there have been longstanding concerns about the quality of care to support these patients in this setting. MAPS aims to generate a Theory of Change (ToC) model to improve the quality of care for CYP admitted to acute paediatric services after presenting with an MH crisis. Here, we describe work packages (WPs) 2 and 3 of the study, which have been granted ethics approval.<br />Methods and Analysis: We will undertake a national (England), sequential, mixed-methods study to inform a ToC framework alongside a stakeholder group consisting of patients, families/carers and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Our study consists of four WPs undertaken over 30 months. WP2 is limited to working with stakeholders to develop a data collection instrument and then use this in a prospective study of MH admissions over 6 months in 15 purposively recruited acute paediatric wards across England. WP3 consists of gathering the views of CYP, their families/carers and HCPs during admissions using semistructured interviews.<br />Ethics and Dissemination: WP2 and WP3 received ethical approval (ref: 23/LO/0349). We will publish the overall synthesis of data and the final ToC to improve care of CYP with MH crisis admitted to general acute paediatric settings. As co-producers of the ToC, we will work with our stakeholder group to ensure wide dissemination of findings. Potential impacts will be upon service development, new models of care, training and workforce planning.<br />Prospero Registration Number: CRD42022350655.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2399-9772
Volume :
8
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
BMJ paediatrics open
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38272539
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002186