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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 11, 2001, at 18:57:48
Hi, everyone,
I'd like to submit Psycho-Babble for an award for innovative educational programs. Here's (part of) what I came up with for their form. Any thoughts? I'd value your input...
Bob
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Brief description:
Psycho-Babble is an electronic self-help group. It is composed mostly of patients, but also includes friends and family members of patients as well as some health professionals. Members of the group use it to educate each other about psychiatric illness and therapeutic options, particularly medications. Interactions take place on an online message board.
Innovativeness:
Self-help groups that meet in person are well-recognized as important sources of education and support. Psycho-Babble extends that concept in two directions. First, it is online and therefore more accessible. Members don't need to be free at a particular time on a particular day. They don't need to live near each other. They don't even need to leave home. They may be disabled and not *able* to leave home. And they may be anonymous. The discussion is "asynchronous" (not in "real time"), so members may research topics or reflect on what they want to say or how to say it before they respond; "threaded" (consisting of multiple simultaneous exchanges on different topics), so more than one member may address an issue at the same time; and archived, so information that is provided may have an educational impact far beyond those members active at that time. Second, the supportiveness of the milieu is maintained by the psychiatrist host (Dr. Hsiung). People tend to feel safer online and therefore to be less inhibited. There is more sharing, but there can also be disruptive behavior. Setting limits is essential to keep the group supportive.
Educational issue:
Patients need to be informed about their illnesses and the therapeutic options available to them. An educated patient is an effective partner in the doctor-patient team. Psychiatrists can provide information as well as treatment, but some patients want information before even going to a psychiatrist; some patients feel uncomfortable asking questions of authority figures; some psychiatrists don't have the time to provide much information or as much information to provide as perhaps they might; and even if a patient is assertive and has a knowledgeable psychiatrist who spends time with him or her, the patient may appreciate having more than one source of information. Also, being told something by a psychiatrist isn't the same thing as being told something by someone else in your shoes, even if what they tell you is the same thing. Since Psycho-Babble is a self-help group, it is group members who do the educating. It is helpful for them to give as well as to receive. Finally, education is not everything. Having hope and not feeling alone are also important needs served by Psycho-Babble.
Self-evaluation:
Usage statistics are followed, and members often "post" (submit) unsolicited feedback on the site itself. The program is constantly being improved, both in response to feedback from members and at the initiative of Dr. Hsiung. Some of these improvements include: allowing messages to be previewed before being posted, highlighting new posts, giving members the option of being notified by e-mail of follow-ups to their posts, adding a search engine to the archive, offering translation into different languages, creating separate message boards for "just being social" and for administrative issues, enabling Internet-addicted members to limit their use of the site, expanding the Frequently Asked Questions to address self-medication and civility, instituting a secure registration system to facilitate limit-setting, and bringing in expert psychiatrists to respond to questions.
Posted by Shar on December 11, 2001, at 23:56:34
In reply to Input on application for award, posted by Dr. Bob on December 11, 2001, at 18:57:48
Under 'educational issue' you talk about patients going to psychiatrists, maybe you should include those people who are prescribed meds by their regular doctor, also. Those folks may really appreciate PB because their GP may not be too knowledgeable (as compared to pdocs, pharmacists, psychopharmacologists, etc.).
I think it is great submitting PB for this award.
Oh, did you mention setting up the chat room? The spinoffs from original PB hold a lot of value and interest. And, while it may not be as appealing as the psycho stuff, getting to provide input on administrative issues makes the whole setup a bit more cohesive IMO.
Shar
> Educational issue:
>
> Psychiatrists can provide information as well as treatment, but some patients want information before even going to a psychiatrist; some patients feel uncomfortable asking questions of authority figures; some psychiatrists don't have the time to provide much information or as much information to provide as perhaps they might; and even if a patient is assertive and has a knowledgeable psychiatrist who spends time with him or her, the patient may appreciate having more than one source of information. Also, being told something by a psychiatrist isn't the same thing as being told something by someone else in your shoes, even if what they tell you is the same thing. Since Psycho-Babble is a self-help group, it is group members who do the educating. It is helpful for them to give as well as to receive. Finally, education is not everything. Having hope and not feeling alone are also important needs served by Psycho-Babble.
>
Posted by Cam W. on December 12, 2001, at 0:54:33
In reply to Input on application for award, posted by Dr. Bob on December 11, 2001, at 18:57:48
Dr.B. - If you want a term for an informed consumer/physician relationship, you could say that it helps to develop a "concordance", a mutually arrived at treatment plan, rather than a physician-instituted compliance format. Concordance improves compliance through both parties arriving at a mutually agreed upon treatment plan, where the input of both parties are respected. Concordance is big in the U.K. and has been quietly building under the surface of the medical community's mindset (through patient advocacy groups and some outspoken physicians and researchers) for about the past 20 to 25 years.
"Psychobabble facilitates concordance". I dunno, just a thought. - Cam
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 12, 2001, at 1:01:36
In reply to Re: Input on application for award » Dr. Bob, posted by Shar on December 11, 2001, at 23:56:34
> Under 'educational issue' you talk about patients going to psychiatrists, maybe you should include those people who are prescribed meds by their regular doctor, also.
Good point, thanks!
> Oh, did you mention setting up the chat room? The spinoffs from original PB hold a lot of value and interest.
Ah, right, forgot about that. Maybe because I've never tried it myself... Thanks again!
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 13, 2001, at 13:41:17
In reply to Re: Input on application for award » Dr. Bob, posted by Cam W. on December 12, 2001, at 0:54:33
> If you want a term for an informed consumer/physician relationship, you could say that it helps to develop a "concordance", a mutually arrived at treatment plan, rather than a physician-instituted compliance format.
Hmm, interesting term, thanks for letting me know. In mental health, sometimes you see "therapeutic alliance", but usually not in the context of the consumer being informed.
> "Psychobabble facilitates concordance".
I never said "compliance", did I? I kind of liked: "An educated patient is an effective partner in the doctor-patient team."
Bob
PS: BTW, it's on its way, I'll let you know what happens next...
Posted by noa on December 13, 2001, at 16:17:08
In reply to Re: Input on application for award » Dr. Bob, posted by Shar on December 11, 2001, at 23:56:34
and the pb tips folders, too.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 13, 2001, at 16:35:20
In reply to Re: Input on application for award, posted by noa on December 13, 2001, at 16:17:08
> and the pb tips folders, too.
Of course, but I wasn't thinking, and like I said it's already on its way. Oh well, next time...
Bob
Posted by Willow on December 15, 2001, at 22:02:14
In reply to Re: duh again, posted by Dr. Bob on December 13, 2001, at 16:35:20
> Of course, but I wasn't thinking, and like I said it's already on its way. Oh well, next time...
Was there a timeline that made it important to get it in in such a haste?Imsure there's hundreds of more good points we could of came up with!
I liked the time description (cyber-time thing) which really helps me when I'm on the slow train. At a tribunal for an application for disability, my mother burst into tears saying that I was always good with numbers and that's the first thing that went. I kicked my mother under the table and proudly stated that my ability to function hadn't gone anywhere it's just really slow. Okay I'm rambling.
The point I would have liked to make was that it really helps people like myself who don't have access to such a large community. There still is stigma involved with mental health issues because it affects a persons behaviour which is the core of how people interact, plus the limited resources available. That we aren't just limited by mental or physical disabilities.
And that the site does help individuals. I'm testimony. The friendships, support, and information from this site added to the therapy and meds are helping me to cope, and thus affects my family and everyone else that they and I interact with.
Ahhh ... I'm just rambling.
Willow
ps why did You put the * around the word disability? just wondering
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 16, 2001, at 23:21:47
In reply to Re: duh again, posted by Willow on December 15, 2001, at 22:02:14
> Was there a timeline that made it important to get it in in such a haste?
Every application has a deadline, right?
> The point I would have liked to make was that it really helps people like myself who don't have access to such a large community. There still is stigma involved with mental health issues because it affects a persons behaviour which is the core of how people interact, plus the limited resources available.
You're right, I should've said something explicit about stigma. Geography and stigma I guess I thought of as covered by not needing to live near each other and having the option of being anonymous:
> > They don't need to live near each other. They don't even need to leave home. They may be disabled and not *able* to leave home. And they may be anonymous.
> And that the site does help individuals. I'm testimony. The friendships, support, and information from this site added to the therapy and meds are helping me to cope, and thus affects my family and everyone else that they and I interact with.
Hmm, that's a good point, what's good for you is good for your family, there are ripple effects...
> ps why did You put the * around the word disability? just wondering
Around "able", you mean? (see above) To contrast it with not needing to leave home.
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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