Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Consumers with Mental Illness in Australia

Abstract

People with serious mental illness (SMI) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, yet research on nurse-provided health promotion in mental health services remains under-developed. This paper informs efforts to improve the nursing role in physical health of consumers with SMI by establishing what nurse perceptions and background influence their care. Members of the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing were invited to participate in an online survey on their views on physical health care in mental health services. Survey questions included: (a) nurse-consumer collaboration in preventative care and (b) sub-sections of the Robson and Haddad Physical Health Attitude Scale to measure nurse perceived barriers to encouraging lifestyle change of consumers with SMI and frequency of nurse physical healthcare practices. Structural equation modelling was applied to investigate antecedents to physical health care, as well as relationships between antecedents. A national sample of 643 nurses reported regular engagement in health promotion (e.g. advice on diet). There was statistical support for a model depicting perceived consumer-nurse collaboration as a dual-determinant of nurse perceived barriers and self-reported health promotion to consumers with SMI. Perceived barriers to consumer lifestyle change did not predict health promotion. The effects of nurse-consumer collaboration were significant, but small. Perceived consumer-nurse collaboration in preventative care may positively influence the amount of health promotion by nurses in mental health. Perceived barriers to consumer adherence with a healthy lifestyle did not have an impact on nurse-delivered health promotion.

Mental health nurses’ attitudes, experience, and knowledge regarding routine physical healthcare: systematic, integrative review of studies involving 7,549 nurses working in mental health settings

“…Perceived barriers to consumer lifestyle change did not predict health promotion. The effects of nurse–patient collaboration were significant, but small.Happell et al [36] [2012]AustraliaCross-sectional survey. Cardio-metabolic Health Nurse Role133 open comments about the role of the CHN N = 643 see 5.Routine practiceNationalNurses see the specialist role as suitable and valuable for mental health services.…”

“…More knowledgeable/self-efficacious nurses referred patients to smoking cessation resources ( d = 0.41 to 0.8) or provided intensive interventions ( d = 0.45 to 0.73); those with cessation- consistent beliefs more likely to refer ( d = 0.48 to 0.49) or provide intervention ( d = 0.49–0.90) c Verhaege et al [61] [not reported]BelgiumQualitative. Health promotion.Focus groups (staff) interviews (patients) N = 17 MHNs; N = 15 patients homeless serviceRoutine practiceServiceBenefits of physical and mental health identified, but barriers to integrating healthy lifestyles into patients’ lives: lack of time and personal views and attitudes towards health promotion were important. MHNs and care for specific physical health issues: Longitudinal/intervention studies Happell et al [36] [not reported]AustraliaLongitudinal AB survey. Cardio-metabolic health.14-item questionnaire N = 42 nurses initially and N = 21 at follow-up.Introduction of a CHNServiceNurses initially supportive of the role.…”

The provision of physical health care by nurses to young people with first episode psychosis: A cross‐sectional study

“…However, at the clinical level providing physical health care remains a challenge for many nurses working in mental health setting (Ward, Wynaden, & Heslop, ; Wynaden et al., ). Several studies (Bressington et al., ; Ganiah, Al‐Hussami, & Alhadidi, ; Happell, Platania‐Phung, & Scott, ; Robson, Haddad, Gray, & Gournay, ) have been completed to gain an improved understanding of the challenges nurses experience using a quantitative measurement tool developed by Robson and Haddad (), and to evaluate attitudes nurses hold towards physical health promotion activities (Happell & Platania‐Phung, ; Wynaden et al., ). A qualitative study also identified the need for mental health nurses to change their nursing practices to address the unmet physical health care needs of mental health service users (Gray & Brown, ).…”