Table 4 Themes identified in focus group and interviews with patients and staff regarding YouthCHAT utility
Theme | Example |
|---|---|
Using waiting time | “Doing the YouthCHAT was way better in the waiting room than looking lost… Stopped me from being bored.” P1 “People aren’t waiting in the waiting room and not doing anything.”P1 |
Time to think | “The iPad helped [give us more time] to think about our answers.” P2 “Teenage brains can find it difficult to focus on their health needs, but the YouthCHAT gets them already thinking about their health and what they want to talk about before they come into see me, which was really helpful.” S1 |
Identifying issues | “The iPad helped pick up issues that I didn’t think I needed help with.” P4 “It helped me cut down and reflect on the multiple things I need help with.” P2 “It was definitely better at picking up acute issues specifically things around anxiety, drug and alcohol.” S2 “The results from the questionnaire would highlight things that may have not appeared in our standard consultations. It can identify what’s happening in the patient’s life in that point in time.” S1 |
Starting conversations/building rapport | “The doctor started the conversation after looking at the report.” P1 “It’s not awkward talking to them (the doctor and nurse).” P5 “It feels anonymous to them. They (patients) are not having to admit something to a doctor that they might find intimidating, and once we are made aware of whatever issue they have highlighted, it’s an opening for use to try and address that with them.” S1 |
Consultation Efficiency | “The standard holistic HEADSSS [Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs and Alcohol, Sexuality, Suicide and Depression, Safety] assessment we are encouraged to use can take a long time to complete a good one. So use of the assessment tool can really look into managing our time well and also looking at other acute needs.” S2 |
Making Plans, Changes, Referrals | “It helped in entering into negotiating a plan. It sets the clinician in that mind frame that if a risk behaviour is present then what are the services that are available for this young person and can actually open up a conversation straight away.” S2 |
Patient-Clinician Relationship | “Some initial hesitations were whether the electronic tool removed the face to face engagement and connecting with young people. However, the outcome is that it hasn’t been hindered at all. I think it has enhanced it because we still do that engaging and connecting with young people and the YouthCHAT is an option for young people to feel more comfortable to answer questions.” S2 |