Table 4 Summary of methods for the focus group with clinical staff
Aim | To gain the perspectives of clinical staff regarding their understanding the problems of occupational performance post-discharge from hospital and approaches they have used to address them. |
Participants | Inclusion criteria: Occupational Therapists and Support, time and Recovery (STR) workers delivering interventions to address difficulties of occupational performance. Working in the community and recent experience (within last year) of working with individuals with a diagnosed psychotic disorder following discharge from hospital. |
Facilitator | A researcher with lived experience of using mental health services and being admitted to hospital asked the questions and the author was co-facilitator. |
Topic guide | From discharge date to first month post discharge From your experience of working with people with a diagnosed psychotic disorder following discharge from hospital what are the difficulties that you have observed they have had regarding their ability to carry out daily activities? What daily activities have service users told you are important to them during this first month? From 2Â months to 3Â months post discharge From your experience of working with people with a diagnosed psychotic disorder following discharge from hospital what are the difficulties that you have observed they have had regarding their ability to carry out daily activities? What daily activities have service users told you are important to them during this time? Can you describe some the ways in which you have supported people to improve their ability to carry out daily activities following discharge from hospital? |
Recruitment | The clinical staff were recruited by inviting all Occupational Therapists and STR workers in one NHS trust who worked in community mental health teams for people with a diagnosed psychotic disorder, to participate in focus groups. The staff were given a copy of the Participant Information Sheet and given the opportunity to ask the researcher any questions, before deciding to take part in the study. They were given Consent Forms, which were signed by participants on the day of the focus group, before it commenced. |
Analysis | Thematic analysis as outlined by Braun and Clark was used and analysis was driven by the research questions [46]. The trustworthiness [47] of the results was ensured through maintaining credibility through the inclusion of direct quotes in the final report. Member checking was not carried out as their perspective on the topic may have changed from those recorded closer to the time of discharge from hospital. Dependability of the findings was ensured by using a recognised form of data analysis. |