Journal Article

How to improve the system of care for adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems from the perspective of care providers: a concept mapping approach

Dankulincova Veselska, Zuzana, Filakovska Bobakova, Daniela, Bosakova, Lucia

2024

Overview

Background Emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) are the most common mental health issues during adolescence, and their incidence has increased in recent years. The system of care for adolescents with EBP is known to have several problems, making the provision of care less than optimal, and attention needs to be given to potential improvements. We, therefore, aimed to examine what needs to be done to improve the system of care for adolescents with EBP and to assess the urgency and feasibility of the proposed measures from the perspective of care providers. Methods We used Concept mapping, a participatory mixed-method research, based on qualitative data collection and quantitative data analysis. A total of 33 stakeholders from 17 institutions participated in our study, including psychologists, pedagogues for children with special needs, teachers, educational counsellors, social workers and child psychiatrists. Results Respondents identified 43 ideas for improving of the system of care for adolescents with EBP grouped into 5 clusters related to increasing the competencies of care providers, changes at schools and school systems, support for existing services, transparency of the care system in institutions and public administration, and the adjustment of legislative conditions. The most urgent and feasible proposals were related to the support of awareness-raising activities on the topic of EBP, the creation of effective screening tools for the identification of EBP in adolescents, strengthening the role of parents in the process of care, comprehensive work with the family, creation of multidisciplinary support teams and intersectoral cooperation. Conclusions Measures which are more accessible and responsive to the pitfalls of the care system, together with those strengthening the role of families and schools, have greater potential for improvements which are in favour of adolescents with EBP. Care providers should be invited more often and much more involved in the discussion and the co-creation of measures to improve the system of care for adolescents with EBP.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adolescence / Adolescent / Adolescents / Analysis / Behavior problems / Care providers / Child / Child & adolescent mental health / Child development / Child psychiatrists / Children / Concept mapping / Cooperation / Coronaviruses / Counseling / COVID-19 / Data / Data analysis / Data collection / Disability studies / Disabled children / Emotional and behavioural problems / Emotional behavior / Emotional disturbances / Emotions / Families & family life / Family roles / Feasibility / Health Administration / Health aspects / Health Policy / Health Services Research / Humans / Information management / Interdisciplinary aspects / Literature reviews / Mapping / Measures / Medical personnel / Medical screening / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental disorders / Mental health / Mental health services / Methods / Multidisciplinary teams / Needs / Parents - psychology / Pedagogy / Prevention / Problem Behavior - psychology / Psychiatrists / Psychologists / Public administration / Public Health / Public schools / Qualitative analysis / R & D/Technology Policy / Research methodology / Respondents / Schools / Social workers / Special needs children / Strengthening / System of care / Teachers / Teamwork / Teenagers / Transparency / Urgency / Youth