The primary mental health care nurse specialist practice experience in primary care centers in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study
| Date | 03 October 2022 |
| Pages | 416-428 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-07-2022-0041 |
| Published date | 03 October 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Sami Abdullrahman Alhamidi,Seham Mansour Alyousef |
The primary mental health care nurse
specialist practice experience in primary
care centers in Saudi Arabia:
a qualitative study
Sami Abdullrahman Alhamidi and Seham Mansour Alyousef
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to explore the value that care from a primary mental health care nurse
(PMHCN)can bring to people with mental health (MH)problems in health-care delivery.
Design/methodology/approach –This study used a focus group of 20 PMHCNs working in primary
care (PC) healthsettings in Saudi Arabia before usingthematic content analysis to describeand explore
their views and experiences of the integration of MH care into PC units. The researchers used a semi-
structured interview format, which began with open-endedprobes and proceeded to use of theoretical
samplingbased on emerging data relatedto their experiences and perceptionsin the integrationprocess.
Findings –Four main themes were derived from the thematic analysis of interviews: collaboration,
knowledgeand experience, awareness and orientationcare and influential role.
Research limitations/implications –This study’s use of qualitative research methods has certain
limitations, including the small sample size of 20 participants, which means that it may not be
representative of all primary MH nurses in primary health-care centers in Saudi Arabia. To make the
results applicable to a broaderaudience, the researcher sought to moderate thislimitation by including
participantswith extensive experience in multiplesettings and nurses of different ages.
Practical implications –The cost implications of the PMHCN service are not yet comprehensively
understood, but it is apparent that this model is not only regarded extremely positively by MH
practitioners but may also have significant benefits in terms of patient outcomes. The configuration of
local services and relevantpatient demographics will affect the extent to which this study’sfindings are
transferable. Meanwhile, further research in this area could seek to providefurther evidence about the
aspects of the PMHCNservice model, such as secondary care referrals and waitingtimes, accident and
emergencyattendances and patient recovery rates and the impactof providing such a service on health-
care practitionersas well as its cost-effectiveness.
Originality/value –This study’s findings suggest that PMHCNs believe that their care improves the
quality of PC for patients in PC settings. Elements of the PC placement that professionals particularly
valued include their ability to assist patients in their own community and the inclusion of volunteer
stakeholders who act as preceptors. The participants expressed a need for improvement of policy
relatedto referrals within the clinics.
Keywords Primary, Mental, Health, Care, Nurse
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Primary care (PC) is so-called because it is the first point of access to health care outside
hospitals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018), evidence from around
the world indicates that health-care systems oriented toward PC not only have higher
patient satisfaction levels but alsoproduce better outcomes at lower costs (Liu et al., 2020).
Sami Abdullrahman
Alhamidi is based at the
Department of Maternal
and Child Health, Nursing
College, King Saud
University, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
Seham Mansour Alyousef is
based at the Community
and Psychiatric
Department, Nursing
College, King Saud
University, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
The authors thank the Deanship
of Scientific Research, College
of Nursing Research Centre at
King Saud University for
funding this research.
Funding statement and
Declaration of interests: This
research did not receive any
specific grant from funding
agencies in the public,
commercial, or not-for-profit
sectors.
Disclosure statement: Authors
declare no financial support or
relationships that may pose
conflict of interest.
PAGE 416 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 5 2024, pp. 416-428, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-07-2022-0041
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