Experiences and satisfaction with intensive community care services for children and adolescents with severe mental health disorders: a mixed-methods systematic review.
Ben Hoi-Ching Wong, Jasmine Burrage, Mona Albazi et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This mixed-methods systematic review examined experiences and satisfaction with intensive community care services (ICCS), alternatives to inpatient care, among children and adolescents under 18 with severe mental health disorders. Nine studies from eight articles were included; no studies assessed clinicians’ experiences. The synthesis found that young people and families reported positive experiences when care was accessible, flexible, frequent, multidisciplinary, and attentive to therapeutic relationships and family support. Parent satisfaction was particularly pronounced, and satisfaction was generally higher than with routine care. The review also identified the need to balance family involvement with young people’s autonomy.
Key findings
- Nine studies from eight articles were included: two qualitative, three mixed-methods, and four quantitative studies.
- Satisfaction with ICCS was generally higher than with routine care and particularly pronounced among parents.
- Positive experiences were linked to accessible, responsive, frequent and flexible community contact, multidisciplinary expertise, and caregiver support.
- No included studies examined clinicians’ experiences.
Why it matters
The review highlights service features associated with positive experiences for young people and families receiving intensive community care. Its findings draw attention to accessibility, continuity, caregiver support, and therapeutic work in real-world settings, while underscoring the importance of protecting young people’s autonomy. These considerations may inform service design and workforce training, although the evidence base does not establish the effect of individual service components.
What to keep in mind
The review found no studies of clinician experiences, and the evidence comprised nine studies across varied designs. The abstract does not report quantitative effect estimates for satisfaction.