Action research begins into the value of exploratory consultations

Source: Trimbos Institute

Commissioned by de Nederlandse ggz and funded by ZonMw, the Trimbos Institute, MIND and partners in four Dutch regions have started a two-year action research project on exploratory consultations (verkennend gesprek, VG) within developing Mental Health Networks. The project aims to better understand participants’ experiences, outcomes and what happens after these consultations.

Across the Netherlands, regional Mental Health Networks are being established to improve cooperation between mental healthcare, general practice and social services for people with psychological or psychosocial difficulties. An exploratory consultation brings together the person seeking support and professionals from different sectors, such as mental healthcare and social services.

The aim is to clarify the request for help from a broad perspective and jointly determine an appropriate next step. It is assumed that this can lead to suitable care or support, including outside specialist mental healthcare, and where appropriate to greater self-management or support from personal networks. This may also help reduce waiting times.

Research aims to test the underlying assumptions

There has been limited research into whether these assumptions hold. The project has four objectives:

1. Understand how exploratory consultations and their follow-up are experienced.
2. Identify outcomes for people seeking help six months after the consultation, including care and support use, costs and efficiency.
3. Understand when and why consultations do or do not produce the intended outcomes.
4. Turn the findings into practical recommendations for further developing Mental Health Networks.

Working with four regions

The research is being carried out with partners and stakeholders in Noord-Holland Noord, West-Brabant-Oost and Midden-Brabant, Rijnmond, and Rijk van Nijmegen. This allows the researchers to account for regional differences in how consultations are organised, urbanisation, socioeconomic circumstances and the organisation and quality of cooperation between sectors.

Expected results

The study should show to what extent, why, for whom and under which circumstances exploratory consultations improve outcomes such as satisfaction with care or support, recovery and quality of life. Findings will inform recommendations for Mental Health Networks and exploratory consultations in particular. Results are expected to be shared through infographics, a report, an article and a webinar so other regions can learn from them.

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Original: Read the Dutch article