Information sharing and confidentiality; Version 6
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Information sharing and confidentiality: Experiences of young people who are accessing a CAMHS service for virtual therapy within the context of COVID-19.
IRAS ID
282194
Contact name
Luna Centifanti
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
General background
Previous research has suggested that both young people and their parents experience difficulties in relation to when information sharing and confidentiality are appropriate. The current climate surrounding the move to virtual therapy, within the context of COVID-19, appears to present new challenges in terms of managing confidentiality and the sharing of information between young people, their parents, and services. Research is needed to understand the experiences of young people who are accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and their right to privacy, within the context of virtual working and COVID-19. By asking young people about their experiences and perceptions, professionals may be more equipped to navigate some of the potential challenges in terms of virtual working and the complex conversations that come up around information sharing between young people, their families and services.Aims and Objectives
This study aims to explore the experiences young people, accessing a CAMHS service, in relation to information sharing and confidentiality, within the context of virtual therapy and COVID-19.Design
The proposed study will use a qualitative design, using semi-structured interviews to gather data. An interview schedule will be developed with the research questions in mind, as well as with the input from the service in which this study will be conducted. The proposed study would use Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyse the data.Participants
Participants will be young people, ages 13-18 years, who are under treatment with CAMHS for mental health difficulties. Participants for this study will be recruited from CAMHS within the North West. One site has been identified and agreed to provide practical support with recruitment subject to ethical approval. Additional NHS sites within the North West will also be contacted if sufficient numbers are not obtained from the initial site.Materials
An interview schedule will be used to loosely structure the interviews.
Procedure
Suitable participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be identified through gatekeepers within the CAMHS service. Those who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate in the study will be invited to participate in a face to face or virtual, semi-structured interview, which will last approximately one hour. Interviews will be recorded on a Dictaphone and transferred to secure device. The interviews will be transcribed and analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.Summary of Results
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years and analysed using thematic analysis. Five master themes were identified, which captured participants’ experiences. These were ‘Navigating the shift to virtual therapy’, ‘Therapy at home: A blurring of boundaries’, ‘Developing and maintaining the therapeutic relationship in the virtual world’; ‘The importance of confidentiality and managing this in a virtual space’, and ‘The role of the family’. Sub-themes were also identified within each of the themes. The findings highlighted the importance of confidentiality and challenges relating to maintaining this in the home environment.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0608
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion