Preparing for Mental Health Act reform: Pilot study of co-produced implementation strategies for Advance Choice Documents

Lucy Stephenson*, Tania Gergel, Alexander Ruck Keene, Rifkin Larry, Gareth Owen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
Advance Decision Making (ADM) is strongly supported by stakeholders but implementation remains challenging. In England and Wales, implementation strategies are urgently required to prepare for the introduction of mental health ‘Advance Choice Documents’ (ACDs) as part of Mental Health Act reforms. We report on a pilot project which aimed to co-produce and evaluate implementation strategies for ACDs with those who experience fluctuating mental capacity in the context of bipolar.

Methods
A co-produced prototype ACD template was piloted in ‘Plan, Do, Study Act’ (PDSA) cycles. Implementation strategies were co-produced with participants and mapped onto the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) framework. Strategies were evaluated during thematically analysed qualitative interviews.

Results
We piloted the template with 17 service users during 5 successive PDSA cycles and conducted 75 in depth interviews with stakeholders. Key strategies identified as accessible, appropriate and feasible were: interactive assistance from an independent ‘supporter’, a structured template and active offers of involvement to service users and informal carers.

Conclusions
Mental health professionals and organisations must prepare for increased expectations around mental health ADM. We recommend further pilot projects and the establishment of ‘ACD workshops’. Resource is essential to fund independent ‘supporters’, training, network building and embedding ADM in clinical pathways.
Original languageEnglish
Article number182
JournalWellcome Open Research
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2022

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