Creating a Culture, Not Just a Space: A Study on Reflective Practice Groups in Mental Health
Author Information
Author(s): Yiu Pui Lok Joshua, McDonogh Abbie, Gill Harpreet, Billings Jo
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
What impacts do reflective practice groups have on attendees and their practice?
Conclusion
Reflective practice groups can enhance staff well-being and improve clinical practice in inpatient mental health settings.
Supporting Evidence
- Reflective practice groups may bolster staff reflective capacity and team cohesion.
- The groups may help attendees create appropriate distance from their emotions.
- Facilitators may benefit from more support to establish a reflective culture.
- Different measures could be adopted to improve access and engagement of staff.
Takeaway
This study found that talking about feelings in groups helps mental health workers feel better and work better together.
Methodology
Interviews with fifteen participants from eight inpatient mental health wards were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Potential Biases
The purposive sampling may have excluded individuals with negative experiences of reflective practice groups.
Limitations
The study did not include psychiatrists and occupational therapists, which may limit the understanding of the effectiveness of reflective practice groups.
Participant Demographics
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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