Reflecting on the use of freedom of information requests in mental health research

Philip John Archard; James Tangen; Emma Giles; Steven Lucas; Isobel Moore; Michelle O'Reilly; David Murphy

doi:10.1921/swssr.v23i3.1985

Authors

Philip John Archard Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust / University of Leicester / Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9944-049X
James Tangen
Emma Giles
Steven Lucas Liverpool Hope University, School of Social Science Liverpool Hope University, Honorary Research Fellow https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0548-9293
Isobel Moore Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3105-5859
Michelle O'Reilly Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust / University of Leicester https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1978-6405
David Murphy University of Nottingham https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0019-3124

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v23i3.1985

Keywords:

data collection, ethics, freedom of information, mental health, research methodology, survey studies

Abstract

Freedom of information (FoI) legislation has been represented as a valuable but underused means of generating otherwise unavailable data from public authorities in health and social care research. This article complements extant literature on the use of FoI requests for research intended to inform health and social care policy and improve the quality of practice. Reflections are provided on challenges and ethical considerations, drawing on relevant literature and the authors’ experience undertaking studies addressing different topics in mental health and child welfare using FoI requests as the primary source of data collection. The recommendations are practically orientated and aimed primarily at social work and health and social care researchers who may have limited knowledge of how FoI requests might be utilised in their work but be curious about this method’s application.

Author Biographies

Philip John Archard, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust / University of Leicester / Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Philip John Archard is a Mental Health Practitioner in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, an Associate Lecturer at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Leicester.

Isobel Moore, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Isobel Moore is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist within the Derby and Erewash Working Age Adult Community Mental Health Teams.

Michelle O'Reilly, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust / University of Leicester

Dr Michelle O’Reilly is an Associate Professor of Communication in Mental Health at the University of Leicester and a Research Consultant and Quality Improvement Advisor for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. Michelle is also a Chartered Psychologist in Health.

David Murphy, University of Nottingham

David Murphy is Professor of Psychology and Education. His research is focused on the development of wellbeing in education and progressive, democratic and therapeutic education.

References

Agha, R. (2012). Towards national surgical surveillance in the UK–a pilot study. PLoS One, 7, 12, 1-6

Archard, P. J., Tangen, J., Fox, J., Lucas, S., and Murphy, D. (2022). A survey of specialist treatment provision and care pathways for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder. (In press).

Ashmore, R., and Carver, N. (2017). Informal mental health patients: What are they told of their legal rights? Mental Health Review Journal, 22, 1, 51-62

Bennion, M. R., Hardy, G., Moore, R. K., and Milligs, A. (2017). E-therapies in England for stress, anxiety or depression: What is being used in the NHS? A survey of mental health services. BMJ Open, 7, 1, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014844

Bourke, G., Worthy, B., and Hazell, R. (2012). Making Freedom of Information Requests: A Guide for Academic Researchers. The Constitution Unit, University College London, London

Bows, H. (2017). Researching sexual violence against older people: Reflecting on the use of freedom of information requests in a feminist study. Feminist Review, 115, 1, 30-45

Brooker, C. (2015). Healthcare and probation: The impact of government reforms. Probation Journal, 62, 3, 268-272

Brooker, C., Tocque, K., Kennedy, A., and Brown, M. (2016). The care programme approach, sexual violence and clinical practice in mental health. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 43, 97–101.

Brown, K. J. (2009). Freedom of information as a research tool: Realising its potential. The Howard Journal, 48, 1, 88-91.

Cameron, C., Moore, M., and Nutt, A. (2020). Improving understanding of service user involvement and identity: Disabled people bringing ourselves out of the half-shadows. Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 21, 1, 5-20.

Clifton Sprigg, J., James, J., and Vujić, S. (2020). Freedom of information (FoI) as a data collection tool for social scientists. PLoS ONE, 15, 2, e0228393. https;//doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228392

Crenna-Jennings, W., and Hutchinson, J. (2018). Access to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services – 2018. Education Policy Institute. https://epi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/EPI_Access-to-CAMHS-2018.pdf

Crenna-Jennings, W., and Hutchinson, J. (2020). Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in 2019. Education Policy Institute. https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/access-to-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-in-2019/

Department for Education. (2018). Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779401/Working_Together_to_Safeguard-Children.pdf

Fage-Butler, A. (2013). Improving patient information leaflets: Developing and applying an evaluative model of patient-centredness for text. Communication and Medicine, 10, 2, 105-15

Freedom of Information Act (2000). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents

Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations (2004). SI 2004/3244 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/3244/contents/made

Fowler, A. J., Agha, R. A., Camm, C. F., and Littlejohns, P. (2013). The UK Freedom of Information Act (2000) in healthcare research: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 3, 11, 1-7.

Frith, E. (2016). Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation. Education Policy Institute. https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/children-young-peoples-mental-health-state-nation/

Frith, E. (2017). Access and Waiting Times in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services. Education Policy Institute. https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/access-waiting-times-children-young-peoples-mental-health-services/

Gavrilovic, J. J., d’Ardenne, P., Bogic, M., Capuzzo, N., and Priebe, S. (2005). Survey of specialised UK traumatic stress services. Psychiatric Bulletin, 29, 11, 416-418

Giles, E., Lucas, S., Archard, P. J., Moore, I., Tangen, J., O’Reilly, M., and Murphy, D. (2022). Mental health service provision for single homeless people: Findings from a freedom of information-based study. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2022.e1630

Griffiths, M., and Dhuffar, M. (2013). Collecting behavioural addiction treatment data using freedom of information requests. Sage Research Methods Cases. doi: 10.4135/978144627305014533925

Griffiths, M. D., and Dhuffar, M. K. (2014). Treatment of sexual addiction within the British National Health Service. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12, 5, 561-571

Griffiths, S., and Steen, S. (2013). Improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) programme: Scrutinising IAPT cost estimates to support effective commissioning. The Journal of Psychological Therapies in Primary Care, 2, 2, 142-156

Hammond, S. P., Cross, J. L., Poland, F. M., Patel, M., Penhale, B., Smith, T. O., and Fox, C. (2016). Freedom of Information Act: Scalpel or just a sharp knife. Journal of Medical Ethics, 43, 1, 60-62

Harper, D. J. (1995). Discourse analysis and mental health. Journal of Mental Health, 4, 4, 347-358

Hughes, D., Griffiths, L., and Lambert, S. (2000). Opening Pandora’s box? Freedom of information and health services research. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 5, 1, 59-61

Information Commissioner’s Office (2011). Freedom of Information Legislation and Research Information: Guidance for the Higher Education Sector. https://www.wlv.ac.uk/media/departments/office-of-the-vice-chancellor/Advice-from-the-Information-Commissioner-(research-data-under-FOI).pdf

Johnson, D., Hampson, E. (2015). Utilising the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 for crime record data: Indications of the strength of records management in day to day police business. Records Management Journal, 25, 3, 248-268

Kirwan, G. (2020). Speaking truth to power: Mental health service users’ experiences of participation in their diagnosis and treatment. Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 22, 1, 137-156.

Lucas, S., and Archard, P. J. (2021). Early help and children’s services: Exploring provision and practice across English local authorities. Journal of Children’s Services, 16, 1, 74-86

Lucas, S., Archard, P. J., Tangen, J., and Murphy, D. (2018). Arrangements for adult service users who are homeless in English mental health trusts. Mental Health Review Journal, 23, 1, 64-71

Murphy, D., Archard, P. J., Regel, S., and Joseph, S. (2013). A survey of specialized traumatic stress services in the United Kingdom. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 20, 5, 433-441

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2005). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Management of PTSD in Adults and Children in Primary and Secondary Care. National clinical practice guideline number 26. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists/British Psychological Society

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NICE guideline 116. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116/resources/posttraumatic-stressdisorder-pdf-66141601777861

Parsons, S., McCullen, A., Emery, T., and Kovshoff, H. (2019). Awareness within local authorities in England of autism spectrum diagnoses of looked-after children. British Educational Research Journal, 45, 1, 99-116

Piché, J., and Walby, K. (2010). Problematizing carceral tours. British Journal of Criminology, 50, 3, 570-581

Rigbye, J., and Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Problem gambling treatment within the British National Health Service. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 9, 3, 276-281

Savage, A., and Hyde, R. (2014). Using freedom of information requests to facilitate research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 17, 3, 303- 317

Tarrier, N., Liversidge, T., and Gregg, L. (2006). The acceptability and preference for the psychological treatment of PTSD. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 11, 1643-1656

Walby, K., and Larsen, M. (2011). Access to information and freedom of information requests: Neglected means of data production in the social sciences. Qualitative Inquiry, 18, 1, 31-42.

Walby, K., and Luscombe, A. (2018). Ethics review and freedom of information requests in qualitative research. Research Ethics, 14, 4, 1-15

White, E., and Winstanley, J. (2021). Clinical supervision provided to mental health nurses in England. British Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 10, 2, 1-11