Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2011 Summer;35(1):29-36. doi: 10.2975/35.1.2011.29.36.
This research explored the pathways through which the experiential knowledge of people who need and use mental health and social housing services (citizen-users) gains access to policymaking.
Qualitative instrumental case study methodology focused the study on the policy field of mental health and social housing in Manitoba, Canada. Data collection included interviews with 21 key informants from four policy actor groups: citizen-users, service providers, advocacy organization representatives, and government officials. Relevant policy-related documents were also reviewed. Data were analyzed using inductive qualitative methods.
Key informants described diverse pathways through which the experiential knowledge of citizen-users has been communicated to policy decision makers. Pathways have involved direct discourse between citizen-users and decision makers. Alternatively, indirect pathways were ones in which experiential knowledge was translated by other policy actors. Informants identified factors that could influence the integrity of the indirect pathways: the length and complexity of the pathways, the motivations and interests of the translators, and strategies to enhance the pathways. The pathways could be strengthened by developing the culture, leadership, knowledge, skills and attitudes supportive of engaging citizen-users and by accurately translating their experiential knowledge.
If citizen-users are to be included in policymaking in a recovery-oriented mental health system, action must be taken to enhance the pathways through which their experiential knowledge reaches policymaking processes. Service providers, advocacy organization representatives and government officials can all take action to promote social policymaking that is informed by citizen-users' ideas and experiences.
本研究探讨了需要和使用心理健康和社会住房服务的人群（公民用户）的经验知识如何进入决策制定过程的途径。
采用定性工具案例研究方法，将研究重点放在加拿大马尼托巴省的心理健康和社会住房政策领域。数据收集包括对来自四个政策行动者群体的 21 名关键知情者进行访谈：公民用户、服务提供者、倡导组织代表和政府官员。还审查了相关政策相关文件。使用归纳定性方法分析数据。
关键知情者描述了公民用户的经验知识与政策决策者沟通的多种途径。途径包括公民用户和决策者之间的直接对话。或者，间接途径是经验知识由其他政策行为者翻译的途径。知情人确定了可能影响间接途径完整性的因素：途径的长度和复杂性、翻译者的动机和利益，以及增强途径的策略。通过培养支持参与公民用户的文化、领导力、知识、技能和态度，并准确翻译他们的经验知识，可以加强这些途径。
如果要在以康复为导向的心理健康系统中让公民用户参与决策制定，就必须采取行动来加强他们的经验知识进入决策制定过程的途径。服务提供者、倡导组织代表和政府官员都可以采取行动，促进受公民用户想法和经验启发的社会政策制定。
