Browsing by Author "Price, L.N."

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Collaboration Between Biomedical and Complementary and Alternative Care Providers: Barriers and Pathways
(SAGE Publishing, 2017) "Van der Watt, A.S.J.; Nortje, G.; Kola, L.; Appiah-Poku, J.; Othieno, C.; Harris, B.; Oladeji, B.D.; Esan, O.B.; Makanjuola, V.; Price, L.N.; Seedat, S.; Gureje, O.
We examined the scope of collaborative care for persons with mental illness as implemented by traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical care providers. We conducted semistructured focus group discussions in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria with traditional healers, faith healers, biomedical care providers, patients, and their caregivers. Transcribed data were thematically analyzed. A barrier to collaboration was distrust, influenced by factionalism, charlatanism, perceptions of superiority, limited roles, and responsibilities. Pathways to better collaboration were education, formal policy recognition and regulation, and acceptance of mutual responsibility. This study provides a novel cross-national insight into the perspectives of collaboration from four stakeholder groups. Collaboration was viewed as a means to reach their own goals, rooted in a deep sense of distrust and superiority. In the absence of openness, understanding, and respect for each other, efficient collaboration remains remote. The strongest foundation for mutual collaboration is a shared sense of responsibility for patient well-being.
Partnership for mental health development in Sub-Saharan Africa (PaM-D): a collaborative initiative for research and capacity building
(Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2019) Gureje, O.; Seedat, S.; Kola, L.; Appiah-Poku, J.; Othieno, C.; Harris, B.; Makanjuola, V.; Price, L.N.; Ayinde, O. O.; Esan, O. B.
Aims In low and middleincome countries (LMIC) in general and sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries in particular, there is both a large treatment gap for mental disorders and a relative paucity of empirical evidence about how to fill this gap. This is more so for severe mental disorders, such as psychosis, which impose an additional vulnerability for human rights abuse on its sufferers. A major factor for the lack of evidence is the few numbers of active mental health (MH) researchers on the continent and the distance between the little evidence generated and the policymaking process. Methods: The Partnership for Mental Health Development in Africa (PaMD) aimed to bring together diverse MH stakeholders in SSA, working collaboratively with colleagues from the global north, to create an infrastructure to develop MH research capacity in SSA, advance global MH science by conducting innovative public health relevant MH research in the region and work to link research to policy development. Participating SSA countries were Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and South Africa. The research component of PaMD focused on the development and assessment of a collaborative shared care (CSC) program between traditional and faith healers (T&FHs) and biomedical providers for the treatment of psychotic disorders, as a way of improving the outcome of persons suffering from these conditions. The capacity building component aimed to develop research capacity and appreciation of the value of research in a broad range of stakeholders through bespoke workshops and fellowships targeting specific skillsets as well as mentoring for early career researchers. Results: In the research component of PaMD, a series of formative studies were implemented to inform the development of an intervention package consisting of the essential features of a CSC for psychosis implemented by primary care providers and T&FHs. A cluster rand was next designed to test the effectiveness of this package on the outcome of psychosis. In the capacity building component, 35 early and midcareer researchers participated in the training workshops and several established mentor mentee relationships with senior PaMD members. At the end of the funding period, 60 papers have been published and 21 successful grant applications made. CONCLUSION: The success of PaMD in energising young researchers and implementing a cutting-edge research program attests to the importance of partnership among researchers in the global south working with those from the north in developing MH research and service in LMIC.
The perceived effectiveness of traditional and faith healing in the treatment of mental illness: a systematic review of qualitative studies
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2018) Van der Watt, A.S.J.; van de Water, T.; Nortje, G.; Oladeji, B.D.; Seedat, S.; Gureje, O.; Partnership for Mental Health Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (PaM-D) Research Team, Collaborators; Kola, L.; Appiah-Poku, J.; Othieno, C.; Harris, B.; Esan, O.B.; Makanjuola, V.; Price, L.N.
Purpose: This work complements a quantitative review by Nortje et al. (Lancet Psychiatry 3(2):154–170, 2016) by exploring the qualitative literature in regard to the perceived effectiveness of traditional and faith healing of mental disorders. Method: Qualitative studies focusing specifically on traditional and/or faith healing practices for mental illness were retrieved from eight databases. Data were extracted into basic coding sheets to facilitate the assessment of the quality of eligible papers using the COREQ. Results: Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Despite methodological limitations, there was evidence from the papers that stakeholders perceived traditional and/or faith healing to be effective in treating mental illness, especially when used in combination with biomedical treatment. Conclusion: Patients will continue to seek treatment from traditional and/or faith healers for mental illness if they perceive it to be effective regardless of alternative biomedical evidence. This provides opportunities for collaboration to address resource scarcity in low to middle income countries.