Staff experience of Open Dialogue (OD) training in planned, acute and urgent care services in a mental health NHS Trust: a thematic analysis.

Abstract

Background: Open Dialogue (OD) is a social network-based, integrative approach to mental health care that encourages shared understanding between service users, their significant others, and professionals.

Aims: This study aimed to explore staff experience of OD training delivered across services in planned, acute and urgent care, providing a multi-team approach.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted with seventeen staff members across two time points: three months into training, and three months post-training. A thematic analysis was performed on the transcribed data.

Results: Four superordinate themes, each containing multiple subthemes, were identified across the data set: current practice versus paradigm shift, commitment of training, friction in experiential learning, and shifting power.

Conclusions: Trainees offered mixed evaluations of the training in relation to its practical and experiential elements, with considerable value being found in the multi-team approach. The findings suggest a range of clinical, organisational, and personal benefits of OD training for members of staff through; renegotiating power dynamics, improving working relationships and continuity of care, and enhancing personal reflection and development.