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Mental health users' experiences of being interviewed by another user in a research project. A qualitative study
- Authors:
- BENGTSSON-TOPS A., SVENSSON B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 19(3), June 2010, pp.234-242.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Using a sample of 17 mental health users with previous experience of being interviewed in a research project by another user, interviews were conducted to thematically identify users’ perception of participating in the study. Analysis after content analysis revealed that being interviewed by another user was a special experience including both negative and positive aspects. While it generally happened in an atmosphere of comradeship, being interviewed by another user could generate feelings of insecurity. This result highlights the requirements from the informants how to perform user-involved research in the future. When planning for user-involved research education, the authors concluded that it is necessary to consider training aspects and issues related to secure ethical principles concerning the informants.
Staff experience and understanding of working with abused women suffering from mental illness
- Authors:
- BENGTSSON-TOPS A., SAVEMAN B.-I., TOPS D.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 17(5), September 2009, pp.459-465.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Thematic interviews were conducted with 13 staff members from various welfare services in Sweden. Data were subject to content analysis. The findings showed that working with abused women was experienced as ambiguous and painful and made the staff act pragmatically. Feelings of ambiguity were mainly related to the lack of theoretical frameworks for interpreting why women with mental illness are exposed to abuse. Painful experiences involved intertwined feelings of distress, frustration, worthlessness, ambivalence and powerlessness. These were all feelings that emerged in the direct encounters with the abused women. In response to the abused women's comprehensive needs, staff members acted pragmatically, implying networking without any sanction from the leaders of the organisation, compliance with routines and taking action in here-and-now situations. By acting pragmatically, staff members could achieve concrete results through their interventions. It is concluded that staff members, working with abused women with mental illness, are in a vulnerable situation and in need of formally accepted and implemented support and legitimacy as well as theoretical knowledge regarding causes and consequences of abuse in this particular group of women.