Staff perceptions of the DIALOG tool and its use for early intervention in psychosis services

Abstract

Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services aim to delay or prevent the onset of severe mental health issues, including psychosis, and provide a stepped care approach for people experiencing emerging psychotic symptoms. The DIALOG service user-rated outcome and experience measure is used routinely in EIP services and provides a comprehensive assessment of service users’ quality of life, care needs and treatment satisfaction. This service evaluation explored staff’s perceptions of using DIALOG in one EIP service. Data were collected from 20 staff members (including 12 nurses) via a survey and a focus group. Themes extrapolated from focus group data were feasibility, engagement and facilitation. Findings showed that staff felt confident using DIALOG regardless of the number of years they had worked in the EIP service and that DIALOG supported person-centred conversations with service users. However, there was variability in how frequently DIALOG was administered and some staff regarded it as a tick-box exercise.