A Pilot Test of a Peer Navigator Intervention for Improving the Health of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at considerably higher risk for morbidity and mortality than those in the general population. The current pilot trial is a preliminary examination of a peer health navigation intervention for improving health and healthcare utilization called the Bridge. Twenty-four individuals with SMI were randomly assigned to either peer navigation or treatment as usual (TAU). Navigators encouraged development of self-management of healthcare through a series of psychoeducation and behavioral strategies. Outcomes included a range of health consequences, as well as health utilization indices. After 6 months, compared to the TAU group, participants receiving the intervention experienced fewer pain and health symptoms. Participants changed their orientation about seeking care to a primary care provider (44.4 % vs. 83.3 %, χ(2) = 3.50, p < .05) rather than the emergency room (55.6 % vs. 0 %, χ(2) = 8.75, p < .01). Therefore, the Bridge intervention demonstrated considerable promise through positively impacting health and healthcare utilization.

Integrated Care to Address the Physical Health Needs of People with Severe Mental Illness: A Mapping Review of the Recent Evidence on Barriers, Facilitators and Evaluations

“…In response to this, further care models have incorporated a ‘navigator’ role. While navigators or care coordinators are generally implemented to negotiate the boundaries between health, social care, education, and housing sectors, this role can be just as important for helping people with SMI negotiate boundaries within heath care, between physical and mental health services, or between primary and secondary care [132934354154]. …”

“…The personalisation agenda for people with SMI also featured in the National Service Framework for Mental Health in 1999 [9]. Similar approaches to care-coordination have been implemented internationally [10111213141516]. …”

A Pilot Investigation to Enhance Behavioral Health Referral for Perinatal, Low-Income Women With Mood Disorders

“…Coordinating care between the behavioral, medical, and community systems is challenging and bifurcation of the system is a problem. 27 Using highly paid professionals may prove cost prohibitive for sustained adoption; thus, fiscally sound alternatives are needed. 27 …”

Kinship Caregiver Perception of a State-Supervised Kinship Navigator Program

“…The health care field has used patient navigators to assist cancer and mental health patients and their families in identifying and accessing medical and psychosocial services (Campbell, Craig, Eggert, & Bailey-Dorton, 2010;Kelly et al, 2013;Pedersen & Hack, 2010;Wilcox & Bruce, 2010). Patient navigator programs for cancer patients were introduced in 1990 in Harlem Hospital and are now extensively used in hospitals and clinics around the country.…”

“…These programs are associated with increased patient satisfaction and increased screening rates (Campbell et al, 2010;Pedersen & Hack, 2010;Wilcox & Bruce, 2010). Navigation programs for Downloaded by [Georgian Court University] at 15:19 05 April 2015 people with mental illness are associated with a reduction in pain and other adverse health symptoms (Kelly et al, 2013).…”