Background
Theoretical background
Interacting objects | |||
---|---|---|---|
Modules
|
People
| ||
Aim
|
Variety
| Substitution interfaces | Information guiding interfaces |
Coherence
| Arrangement interfaces | Information rationalising interfaces |
Methods
Research design
Case selection
Unit of analysis
Data collection
Interviews
Subject | Topics and indicative questions |
---|---|
Service architecture | • What is residential care? What residential care does the centre for psychosis offer? |
• How is this care organised? | |
• To what extent is this care standardised? Is fine-tuning for individual patients possible? | |
Service customisation process | • How does the assessment of the (care) needs and demands of a patient take place? |
• How is the care package composed? | |
• How is the care package adapted during care provision? | |
Interfaces | • How is (re) configuration of services made possible? |
o Supporting interactions and interdependencies between modules; | |
o Supporting information exchange between service providers and between service providers and patients. | |
• How is coherence in care packages ensured? | |
o Directing interactions and interdependencies between modules; | |
o Directing information exchange between service providers and between service providers and patients. |
Observations
Documentation
Type of data | Data collection methods |
---|---|
Primary data | Interviews |
• Seven interviews | |
• Semi-structured | |
• Face-to-face | |
• Recorded | |
• Confidential | |
• Interviewees from various functions within the centre for psychosis | |
Observations | |
• Three and a half day of observations | |
• Unstructured | |
• Observer as participant | |
Secondary data | Documentary analysis |
• Internal documents | |
• External documents |
Ethics and consent statement
Data analysis
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Data reduction, where data are transformed and condensed;
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Data display, where data are displayed in a meaningful way; and
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Drawing and verifying conclusions.
Aspects of research quality | Tactics used in this research |
---|---|
Construct validity | • Triangulation of data and data collection methods |
• Documentation of research process | |
• Member validation of interview transcripts | |
• Review of draft versions of the research report by a research expert and a sector expert | |
External validity | • Documentation of research process |
• Rich presentation of findings | |
• Selected interviewees for maximum variation | |
Reliability | • Documentation of research process |
• Creation of case study database | |
• Usage of secondary data | |
• Usage of software package for coding of transcripts | |
• Triangulation of data and data collection methods | |
• Multiple respondents | |
• Interviewees knew the interviewer | |
• Confidential interviews | |
• Use of face-to-face interviews | |
• Member validation of interview transcripts | |
• Avoiding expression of opinions by interviewer | |
• Taping and verbatim transcription of interviews |
Results
Modular service architecture
Interfaces
Interacting objects | |||
---|---|---|---|
Modules
|
People
| ||
Aim
|
Variety
| Substitution interfaces | Information guiding interfaces |
Barely present; only overview of day care modules | • Meetings with every change of shifts | ||
• Care provider meetings three times/week | |||
• Six-weekly care team meetings | |||
• Six-weekly general policy meetings | |||
• Care package evaluation conversations | |||
• Regular conversations with patients | |||
Coherence
| Arrangement interfaces | Information rationalising interfaces | |
• Strict planning rules regarding medication and some physical screenings | • Electronic patient file | ||
• Agenda used for all appointments | • Residential care plan | ||
• Work schedule for some care modules | • Work division | ||
• Clear lines of communication |
Service customisation process
Discussion
Main research findings
Implications for practice
Implications for research
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This research can be extended by conducting a multiple case study into the applicability of modularity to residential care provided by ALFs of mental healthcare institutions. This way, the findings with respect to this particular case can be compared with other cases.
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As an experiment, modularity could be implemented in (at least) one ALF of a mental healthcare institution. This will make it possible to test whether modularity can actually help ALFs of mental healthcare institutions to make patients currently in intramural long-term care as self-supporting as possible.
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This research finds that a part of the residential care provided by ALFs of mental healthcare institutions can be decomposed in modules, and a part cannot. Future research could quantify this finding, like Mikkola has quantified the degree of modularisation of the product offerings of two manufacturers [30].
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The results suggest that a part of the delivered residential care (i.e. conversations with patients) serves a dual purpose: it is a care deliverable in itself, and also serves as an interface. A follow-up study could address this peculiarity.