JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

FACT (Flexible Assertive Community Treatment) is a model for integrated care for patients with long-term serious mental illness. FACT teams deliver services using assertive outreach, to treat patients who can be hard to reach by the health care service and focus on both the patient’s health and their social situation. However, in Norway FACT team members have challenges with their information and communication (ICT) solutions.

Objective:

Our objective was to explore Norwegian FACT teams’ experiences and expectations of their ICT solutions.

Methods:

We gathered data in two phases. In the first phase we did semi-structured interviews with team leaders and team coordinators, and did observations in FACT teams targeting adults. In the second phase, we did semi-structured group interviews in FACT teams targeting youth. We did a thematic analysis of the data in a theoretical, deductive way, to highlight the specific objectives of the study.

Results:

A total of 8 teams were included, 5 targeting adults and 3 targeting youth. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, we were not able to do observations in 2 of the teams targeting adults. Team leaders and coordinators in all 5 teams targeting adults were interviewed, in the teams targeting youth a total of 7 team members participated. We found various challenges with communication, documentation, and organization for FACT teams. The covid-19 pandemic was challenging for the teams and changed the way they used ICT solutions. There were issues with some technical solutions used in the teams: electronic health records, electronic whiteboards, and calendars. Lack of integration and access to data were some of the main issues.

Conclusions:

Better ICT solutions that are tailored to the way FACT teams work are needed.