Stakeholder Perspectives on Power Transfer During Implementation of Psychiatric Self-Admission in Scandinavia : A Qualitative Study
Smitmanis Lyle, Maria ; Rozental, Alexander ; Ellegaard Laursen, Trine ; Flyckt, Lena ; Opheim Moljord, Inger Elise ; Antonsen, Dag Øivind ; Nordentoft, Merete ; Westling, Sofie LU
and Lindkvist, Rose-Marie
LU
(2026)
In Healthcare
14(18).
- Abstract
Background/Objectives: Psychiatric inpatient care is characterised by power asymmetries between care providers and care receivers. Despite international guidelines and policies promoting autonomy, involvement, and empowerment, these ideals remain challenging to implement in clinical practice. Psychiatric self-admission has been developed to strengthen autonomy; however, its implementation may challenge established power structures, professional roles, and responsibilities within mental healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perspectives on power transfer during the implementation of psychiatric self-admission in Scandinavia.
Methods: A qualitative multi-source study was conducted using semi-structured... (More)
(Less)
Background/Objectives: Psychiatric inpatient care is characterised by power asymmetries between care providers and care receivers. Despite international guidelines and policies promoting autonomy, involvement, and empowerment, these ideals remain challenging to implement in clinical practice. Psychiatric self-admission has been developed to strengthen autonomy; however, its implementation may challenge established power structures, professional roles, and responsibilities within mental healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perspectives on power transfer during the implementation of psychiatric self-admission in Scandinavia.
Methods: A qualitative multi-source study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and document collection. Interviews were conducted with 36 participants involved in the development and implementation of self-admission in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, approximately 250 documents were gathered. The documentary material was analysed alongside the interviews and focus groups to provide an understanding of the implementation of self-admission models and how power transfer was represented within these processes. The analyses were inspired by methods in qualitative content analysis and document analysis.
Results: Findings on stakeholder perspectives on power transfer during implementation revealed a tension reflected in two subthemes: 'Responsive and Responsible', where self-admission was viewed as a necessary response to needs that the healthcare system was unable to address, and 'Unsafe and Unsound', where self-admission was associated with uncertainties and risks related to losing control.
Conclusions: Implementing psychiatric self-admission, which involved challenging traditional power relations in healthcare, was permeated by trust, distrust, and fear. The findings highlight the need to address stakeholders' concerns related to safety and professional responsibility.
- author
- Smitmanis Lyle, Maria
; Rozental, Alexander
; Ellegaard Laursen, Trine
; Flyckt, Lena
; Opheim Moljord, Inger Elise
; Antonsen, Dag Øivind
; Nordentoft, Merete
; Westling, Sofie
LU
and Lindkvist, Rose-Marie
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-09-08
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Healthcare
- volume
- 14
- issue
- 18
- article number
- 2909
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105051489868
- pmid:42793448
- ISSN
- 2227-9032
- DOI
- 10.3390/healthcare14182909
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 61694e9e-b06e-4f1b-899c-6da48531b7ae
- date added to LUP
- 2026-10-05 10:32:13
- date last changed
- 2026-10-06 04:01:03
@article{61694e9e-b06e-4f1b-899c-6da48531b7ae,
abstract = {{<p><br>
Background/Objectives: Psychiatric inpatient care is characterised by power asymmetries between care providers and care receivers. Despite international guidelines and policies promoting autonomy, involvement, and empowerment, these ideals remain challenging to implement in clinical practice. Psychiatric self-admission has been developed to strengthen autonomy; however, its implementation may challenge established power structures, professional roles, and responsibilities within mental healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perspectives on power transfer during the implementation of psychiatric self-admission in Scandinavia. <br>
Methods: A qualitative multi-source study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and document collection. Interviews were conducted with 36 participants involved in the development and implementation of self-admission in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, approximately 250 documents were gathered. The documentary material was analysed alongside the interviews and focus groups to provide an understanding of the implementation of self-admission models and how power transfer was represented within these processes. The analyses were inspired by methods in qualitative content analysis and document analysis.<br>
Results: Findings on stakeholder perspectives on power transfer during implementation revealed a tension reflected in two subthemes: 'Responsive and Responsible', where self-admission was viewed as a necessary response to needs that the healthcare system was unable to address, and 'Unsafe and Unsound', where self-admission was associated with uncertainties and risks related to losing control. <br>
Conclusions: Implementing psychiatric self-admission, which involved challenging traditional power relations in healthcare, was permeated by trust, distrust, and fear. The findings highlight the need to address stakeholders' concerns related to safety and professional responsibility.<br>
</p>}},
author = {{Smitmanis Lyle, Maria and Rozental, Alexander and Ellegaard Laursen, Trine and Flyckt, Lena and Opheim Moljord, Inger Elise and Antonsen, Dag Øivind and Nordentoft, Merete and Westling, Sofie and Lindkvist, Rose-Marie}},
issn = {{2227-9032}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
number = {{18}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Healthcare}},
title = {{Stakeholder Perspectives on Power Transfer During Implementation of Psychiatric Self-Admission in Scandinavia : A Qualitative Study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14182909}},
doi = {{10.3390/healthcare14182909}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2026}},
}