Johnson-Kwochka_First Person Perspectives.pdf
Objective: Because of changes in health care, there is a
greater focus on brief medication management visits as the
primary method of providing psychiatric care in community
mental health settings. Research on the first-person perspectives
of service users and prescribers in these settings is
limited. The objective of this study was to describe firstperson
perspectives on medication management visits and
the service user–prescriber relationship.
Methods: Researchers conducted qualitative interviews as
part of a larger comparative effectiveness trial at 15 community
mental health centers, researchers interviewed service users
(N=44) and prescribers (N=25) about their perspectives on the
typical elements of a medication management visit and asked
service users about their relationship with their prescriber.
Results: Both service users and prescribers described
medication management visits as very brief encounters
focused on medication and symptoms. Most service users
reflected on the service user–prescriber relationship in positive
or neutral terms; they did not describe the development
of a strong therapeutic relationship or a meaningful clinical
encounter with prescribing clinicians.
Conclusions: Service users described the service user–
prescriber relationship and medication management visit
as largely transactional. Despite the transactional nature of
these encounters, most service users described relationships
with prescribing clinicians in positive or neutral terms.
Their satisfaction with the visit did not necessarily mean
that they were receiving high-quality care. Satisfactionmay
instead suggest service users’ disengagement from care.
They may need more support to fully participate in their
own care.