Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria based on SSPIDER

Sample/ Population

Studies that included mental health professional (MHP) participants:

• Any member of staff responsible for risk assessment and risk management (i.e. mental health nurse, social worker, psychologist, occupational therapist and doctor/psychiatrist).

• Mixed population (e.g. service users and MHP) studies were only included if the results were reported separately and data easily extractable.

• Studies that did not include MHPs (e.g. participants are all service users)

• Studies conducted on students, trainees, peer support workers or those who are not responsible for risk assessment and risk management.

Setting

Adult mental health services (both inpatient and outpatient services) in any geographical location

• Non-mental health related studies (i.e. physical health or learning disability).

• Studies set in older adult, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or drugs/alcohol services.

Phenomenon of Interest

Studies that reported on MHPs’ experiences and attitudes towards Shared Decision Making (SDM) in risk assessment (RA) and risk management (RM) with people with mental health problems.

Studies that provided possible barriers and enablers to SDM in RA and RM as perceived by MHPs.

For the purpose of this review:

• For a decision to be a ‘shared’ decision it must include at least two participants (i.e. professional and service user), the sharing of information and a decision that is made and agreed upon by all parties

• Based on Stacey et al’s (2015) ‘Three I’s Scale of Influence’ model, SDM requires all participants to be informed, involved and influential. Therefore, studies that discussed ‘working in collaboration’ or ‘service user involvement’ were included

• Risk assessment may include statistical/actuarial tools, traditional clinical judgement or structured clinical judgement (combined)

Design of study

All study designs that produced original qualitative data, or mixed-methods studies that included a qualitative component

Studies that reported primarily quantitative data or where no qualitative analysis had been undertaken.

Evaluation

Qualitative outcome methods that measured MHPs’: experiences of; attitudes towards; or perceived barriers and enablers to SDM in RA and RM

Research type

Original empirical studies. No restriction on publication status.

• Systematic reviews

• Editorials

• Opinion pieces

• Letters and similar materials

Language

Only studies written in English.