From information to knowledge: the meaning of information-giving to patients who had experienced first-episode psychosis

The reform of mental health services in Finland signifies that besides the structural development of services, the development of new approaches in care is needed. Besides the other elements, information-giving has an important role when supporting outpatients’ and their caregivers’ everyday lives. The aim of this study was to describe how patients with first-episode psychosis experienced the information-giving and the meaning of these experiences to these patients. The study was conducted by interviewing seven patients participating in the development of the combined model of psycho-education and need-adapted models. The data were gathered by open-ended questions and analysed within the phenomenological tradition, focusing on the understanding of the patient's experiences. The results show that patients’ own understanding and acceptance of the psychotic experience affected their experiences of information-giving as well as the way their experiences were met during their care. The meaning of information was experienced with feelings of worthlessness, relief, confusion or confidence and coping. The results of this study address the importance of recognizing, hearing and appreciating patients’ own experiences. Information-giving should be based on the patients’ own experiences, appreciating them. With the information integrated into patients’ own experiences they can be helped to turn to the future after the psychotic experience.