Monica Strand*, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Deede Gammon*, University Hospital of North Norway, Oslo, Norway Lillian Sofie Eng, Oslo University Hospital, Asker, Norway Track: Research Presentation Topic: Consumer empowerment, patient-physician relationship, and sociotechnical issues Presentation Type: Rapid-Fire Presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Sol Principe Room: B - Gibralfaro Date: 2014-10-10 11:50 AM – 12:35 PM Last modified: 2014-09-03

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Background:
Empowering patients to take a more active role in managing their health through patient-centered collaborative care is desirable for therapeutic response, recovery and is considered as basic civil right. Overall there are essential challenges regarding empowerment and collaborative care, such as; lack of user-centered collaboration between levels of care, and self-management support and effective ways to involve patients in their healthcare. One of the solutions to these challenges could be interactive health communication applications. A practice-research team including service users, clinicians, IT-experts and researchers developed a pilot version of an online tool – called PsyConnect - for assisted self-help in mental health care The tool is for those who expect to need assistance over long periods of time regardless of their specific condition(s). The aim is to support service users in gaining greater overview and control, legitimacy, and sense of continuity in relationships. It has a personalized “my control panel” which depicts status  process  goals. Functionality includes support for: mapping life domains; medication overview; crisis management; coping exercises; diary, secure messaging; and social support. During this pre-pilot phase we found that the domain of empowerment and recovery reflects our aims for the tool.

Objective:
The objective of the study is to illuminate the potentials and limitations of PsyConnect as an aid in facilitating collaboration, empowerment and recovery by 1) describing the different existing online tools for assisted self-help in mental health and their possible impact on collaboration and recovery, and 2) exploring the participants’ experience of using an online tool for assisted self-help in mental health, and its possible impact on the relationships between service users and the health professional and on the process of recovery.

Methods:
The online tool is being pilot tested in two communities, by 40 service users and their providers involved in different levels of mental health care. Qualitative interviews of service users and health professionals both in pairs/teams, individually and in groups will be conducted. Additionally the service users will answer a questionnaire about health and recovery processes at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. The study is conducted in collaboration with a user consultant/co-researcher.

Results:
The results will be continuously incorporated into iterative design processes. The pilot version of the tool will be presented together with preliminary findings. Research in progress.

Conclusions:
Alone, the tool is not likely to change existing practices. The value of PsyConnect will be closely linked to organizational and cultural adaptations within clinical practices that are aligned with recovery thinking. Research in progress.