Lived experiences of nurses caring for adolescents with mental health problems in a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape Province

Abstract

Mental health care for adolescents is currently provided in a range of settings world-wide. These include the pediatrics units, general hospitals and specialized in-patient units for adolescents. However, care in these specialized units has hitherto not been evaluated. A phenomenological approach as a method and design was chosen to enable participants to describe and explore the lived experiences of nurses caring for adolescents in specialized psychiatric units of the selected psychiatric hospital. A purposive sampling method was used to select respondents. In-depth interviews were conducted with nurses caring for adolescents with mental health problems. Data saturation was reached with seven respondents. Interviews were recorded with a tape recorder that was only accessible to the researcher. Data analysis followed Collazi’s style that included listening to the recorded data, transcribing, coding, and intuition, reflection, reducing and interpreting the data. Ethical clearance was obtained from University of the Western Cape Higher Degrees Committee. The researcher requested permission to conduct the study at selected Psychiatric hospital from the Medical Superintendent and research ethics committee. Informed consent was also sought for those who agreed to participate in the study. Participants remained anonymous as their identity was not revealed. Only information related to the study was collected. Anonymity was assured by omitting names from transcripts as participants were given numbers only rather than using their names. The in-depth interviews were conducted in a quiet office to ensure privacy and confidentiality.