Procedures for systematic user involvement in primary mental health services are lacking, and several adolescents are dissatisfied with their opportunities to influence the service provided. The research on the effects of user involvement is scarce, especially regarding user involvement for children and adolescents. Hence, we suggest introducing an idiographic assessment tool in a selection of Norwegian primary mental health services. Idiographic assessment is a way of measuring psychological constructs, by using tools specifically adapted for each individual respondent. This protocol describes the implementation and evaluation of a user involvement tool called 'Assert', in Norwegian primary mental health services. Assert is a simple tool where the adolescents themselves decide the goals or themes that they would like to address in collaboration with their service provider. Assert is scored each time the adolescent and the service provider meet, to monitor progress toward the goal. A randomised controlled trial design is proposed for this study. Assert will be implemented in 5-10 Norwegian municipalities, and will include 250 participants between 12 and 23 years. The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between Assert and perceived user involvement. Are idiographic measures an adequate way to operationalise user involvement on an individual level? And if so, can user involvement (i.e. Assert) have an effect on quality of life and mental health in adolescents? And lastly qualitative analyses of the adolescents' themes and goals will be conducted to explore what matters to the adolescents that visit primary mental health services in Norwegian municipalities.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
150
The Assert-method is a counselling method used to assess and systematically follow up the individual adolescents' perceived needs.
Ål kommune
Ål, Norway
Ringerike kommune
Hønefoss, Norway
Kongsberg kommune
Kongsberg, Norway
Skedsmo kommune
Lillestrøm, Norway
Lørenskog kommune
Lørenskog, Norway
Eidsberg Kommune
Mysen, Norway
Bydel Søndre Nordstrand
Oslo, Norway
UngArena
Oslo, Norway
Familiehuset Adler
Tønsberg, Norway
Nome kommune
Ulefoss, Norway
...and 1 more locations
Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ)
Time frame: One year
Inventory of Life Quality in Children and Adolescents (ILC)
Time frame: One year
Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC)
Time frame: One year
The Assert measurement tool
An ideographic assessment and monitoring tool, used as a part of the Assert method
Time frame: One year
User involvement questionnaire
Perceived degree of user involvement
Time frame: One year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.