Creation of consensus recommendations for collaborative practice in the Malaysian psychiatric system: a modified...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Services Research
• Healthcare Collaboration Models
• Cross-Cultural Healthcare Adaptation

Background:

• Collaborative practice in mental healthcare is proven to improve patient outcomes.
• Existing models are often Western-centric and difficult to apply in diverse, low-resource settings.
• This project focused on developing culturally relevant recommendations for Malaysia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a set of actionable recommendations for improving collaborative practice in Malaysian mental healthcare settings.
• To adapt and validate collaborative practice models for a culturally diverse, lower-resource context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research to understand existing collaboration dynamics.
• Formation of hospital-level committees to generate initial recommendations.
• Implementation and discussion of select recommendations.
• Nationwide Delphi panel engagement with diverse stakeholders.

Main Results:

• Consensus reached on recommendations after three Delphi rounds.
• Recommendations focus on improving problem-solving, decision-making, patient/carer/staff autonomy, and resource allocation.
• Key areas include skills training and integrating lived experience into care.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi method is a viable approach for guideline development in Malaysia.
• This method facilitated broader stakeholder engagement than traditional approaches.
• The developed recommendations aim to enhance collaborative mental healthcare in Malaysia.