Jane Fowler

The relationship between mentee‐mentor gender combination and the provision of distinct mentoring functions

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between specific gender combinations of mentor-mentee and distinct mentoring functions. Design/methodology/approach – Of the 500 participants, 272 were mentees and 228 were mentors from public- and private-sector organisations, representing all four gender combinations of mentor-mentee. Participants completed a 36-item measure of mentoring functions. Findings – Hierarchical regression analyses revealed few significant relationships between gender and mentoring functions. As far as mentees were concerned, female mentors provided personal and emotional guidance to a greater extent than male mentors; female mentors provided career development facilitation to a greater extent than male mentors and female mentees were provided with career development facilitation to a greater extent than male mentees; also female mentees were provided with role modelling to a greater extent than male mentees. As far as mentors were concerned, there were no significant differences in the functions provided to female and male mentees. Research limitations/implications – The study emphasized the need to use measurement tools that examine distinct, rather than categories of, mentoring functions. The findings also suggest that gender may not be as influential, with regard to mentoring functions, as has previously been proffered. Knowledge about the relationships between gender and particular mentoring functions may be beneficial for potential and actual mentees and mentors as they make decisions about becoming involved in mentoring relationships, engage in contracting processes, and monitor and review their relationships. Originality/value – The study was the first to explore the perceptions of both mentees and mentors on gender differences in mentoring functions provided, using an adequate sample and a mentoring instrument designed on a gender representative sample.

Mental health consumer and caregiver perceptions of stigma in Australian community pharmacies

Background: The stigma of mental illness can be a barrier to effective medication management in the community pharmacy setting. This article explored mental health consumers’ or caregivers’ experiences of stigma in Australian community pharmacies. Materials: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of consumers or caregivers (n = 74). Interview transcripts were analysed using a general inductive approach. Discussion: Stigma presented a barrier to effective mental health management. Self-stigma impeded consumers’ community pharmacy engagement. Positive relationships with knowledgeable staff are fundamental to reducing stigma. Conclusions: Findings provide insight into the stigma of mental illness in community pharmacies.

Review of community pharmacy staff educational needs for supporting mental health consumers and carers

Development of a mental health education package for community pharmacy staff should be informed by mental health consumers/carers’ needs, expectations and experiences, and staff knowledge, skills and attitudes. This review (1) explored research on community pharmacy practice and service provision for mental health consumers/carers, and (2) identified validated methods for assessing staff knowledge, skills and attitudes about mental illness to inform the development of a training questionnaire. A literature scan using key words knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs combined with community pharmacy, pharmacist, and pharmacy support staff, and mental illness, depression, anxiety was conducted. A small number of studies were found that used reliable methods to assess pharmacists’ training needs regarding mental illness and treatment options. There was little published specifically in relation to depression and anxiety in community pharmacy practice. No studies assessed the training needs of pharmacy support staff. A systematic analysis of pharmacy staff learning needs is warranted.

Privacy and confidentiality: perspectives of mental health consumers and carers in pharmacy settings

The study aims to explore within the community pharmacy practice context the views of mental health stakeholders on: (1) current and past experiences of privacy, confidentiality and support; and (2) expectations and needs in relation to privacy and confidentiality.

Using an Intervention Mapping Framework to Develop an Online Mental Health Continuing Education Program for Pharmacy Staff

Introduction: Current mental health policy in Australia recognizes that ongoing mental health workforce development is crucial to mental health care reform. Community pharmacy staff are well placed to assist people with mental illness living in the community; however, staff require the knowledge and skills to do this competently and effectively. This article presents the systematic planning and development process and content of an education and training program for community pharmacy staff, using a program planning approach called intervention mapping. Methods: The intervention mapping framework was used to guide development of an online continuing education program. Interviews with mental health consumers and carers (n = 285) and key stakeholders (n = 15), and a survey of pharmacy staff (n = 504) informed the needs assessment. Program objectives were identified specifying required attitudes, knowledge, skills, and confidence. These objectives were aligned with an education technique and delivery strategy. This was followed by development of an education program and comprehensive evaluation plan. The program was piloted face to face with 24 participants and then translated into an online program comprising eight 30‐minute modules for pharmacists, 4 of which were also used for support staff. The evaluation plan provided for online participants (n ≅ 500) to be randomized into intervention (immediate access) or control groups (delayed training access). It included pre‐ and posttraining questionnaires and a reflective learning questionnaire for pharmacy staff and telephone interviews post pharmacy visit for consumers and carers. Results: An online education program was developed to address mental health knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and skills required by pharmacy staff to work effectively with mental health consumers and carers. Discussion: Intervention mapping provides a systematic and rigorous approach that can be used to develop a quality continuing education program for the health workforce.

Australian mental health consumers' and carers' experiences of community pharmacy service.

Many Australians with anxiety or depression experience issues accessing pharmacological treatment even though community pharmacies are remunerated to supply subsidized medicines and provide medicine management services.

Trust and Safe Spaces: Mental Health Consumers’ and Carers’ Relationships with Community Pharmacy Staff

BackgroundTrusting relationships between mental health consumers and health care providers are critical in the management and recovery process. Although community pharmacy staff are well placed to form relationships with mental health consumers and carers, little is known about the existence, nature or significance of consumer–staff relationships.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore mental health consumers’ and carers’ perceptions of community pharmacy services, and describe the nature of their relationships with pharmacy staff.MethodsFocus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 74 mental health consumers or carers who self-selected into the study. Thematic analysis was undertaken to explore participants’ perspectives.ResultsPositive experiences of pharmacy services were perceived to encourage consumers’ and carers’ trust in pharmacists and promote relationship development. This was enhanced when participants felt that elements of patient-centred care were part of the pharmacy services provided. Although some participants perceived community pharmacy to have a limited role in mental health, those who had established relationships highlighted the current role of pharmacists in their care, and appeared to welcome further extensions of pharmacists’ role in mental health.ConclusionsTrusting relationships between consumers and carers and community pharmacy staff were deemed to be important in mental health care and contributed to consumers’ and carers’ views of pharmacy as a safe health care space. Community pharmacy services that included core elements of patient-centred care appeared to facilitate relationship formation and associated benefits. Education and training is needed for community pharmacy staff to improve mental health knowledge and promote positive engagement with consumers and carers.

Common Time: embedding the concept of academic and social integration across cognate degree programmes

Common Time (CT) was a structured programme designed to enhance the social and academic engagement of a growingly diverse student body on a new campus that draws its population from a low‐socioeconomic area. As a voluntary and non‐remedial programme, it incorporated a range of formal and informal activities and processes to engage students. CT operates across degree programmes and involves the collaboration of academics, librarians and support staff such as learning advisers. Interviews with students reveal that the CT strategy achieved the objectives for which it was designed: to facilitate faculty–student informal interaction, provide the opportunity for students to interact and develop relationships with their peers, and provide a range of activities that would assist students with their academic and intellectual development. Further evidence of its success is borne out by high and consistent attendance, the longevity of the programme and its adoption as a model at other institutions.

Don't Silence "The Dinosaurs": Keeping Caution Alive with Regard to Social Work Distance Education.

Distance education (DE) in social work programs and studies on its comparable effectiveness with face-to-face education continue to increase. Yet not all faculty are convinced of the results, and this study explores why. Three case studies indicate that reservations center on valuing the process of learning and nonverbal communication. Issues regarding duty of care to families to be served by future social workers primarily educated in a virtual classroom also matter significantly. The trend toward DE may be inevitable, but this does not mean that educators should not voice their concerns; their skepticism has merit, and they have a responsibility to be vocal.

Exploring an increased role for Australian community pharmacy in mental health professional service delivery: evaluation of the literature*

Abstract Background: Australian general practitioners primarily treat mental health problems by prescribing medication dispensed by community pharmacists. Pharmacists therefore have regular interactions with mental health consumers and carers. Aims: This narrative review explored the potential role of community pharmacy in mental health services. Method: Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, Emerald, PsycINFO, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Knowledge and IPA were utilised. The Cochrane Library as well as grey literature and “lay” search engines such as GoogleScholar were also searched. Results: Four systematic reviews and ten community pharmacy randomised controlled trials were identified. Various relevant reviews outlining the impact of community pharmacy based disease state or medicines management services were also identified. Conclusion: International studies involving professional service interventions for mental health consumers could be contextualised for the Australian setting. Australian studies of pharmacy professional services for chronic physical health conditions provided further guidance for the expansion of community pharmacy mental health professional services.