A qualitative study of orthognathic patients' perceptions of referral to a mental health professional: part 1--questionnaire development.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a measure to assess orthognathic patients' perceptions of referral to a mental health professional. DESIGN: Prospective qualitative study. SETTING: UCLH Foundation Trust. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was divided into two parts. The first phase involved developing a patient-centred questionnaire by carrying out semi-structured interviews with 10 orthognathic patients and 10 clinicians involved in orthognathic treatment provision. The transcripts from these interviews were then analysed using the N6 software package for qualitative research and thematic content analysis was carried out. As key themes and theories of patients' perceptions of referral to a mental health professional began to emerge from the data, this directed the source of further interviews, allowing exploration and validation of all theories. When new themes ceased to arise, it was assumed that data saturation was reached, and no further interviews were undertaken. A questionnaire was then developed using the key themes from the interviews and this was piloted. RESULTS: Analysis of the interviews revealed that patient views could be divided into two main themes service provision and perceptions of mental health professionals. These themes were incorporated into a questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: A new measure of patients' perceptions of referral to a mental health professional is presented.