What Is the Impact of Targeted Health Education for Mental Health Nurses in the Provision of Physical Health Care? An Integrated Literature Review

Abstract

Individuals with a severe mental illness have a gap in life expectancy of up to twenty years in comparison to the general population. Nurses who work in mental health services have been identified as best placed to improve the physical health outcomes of individuals with mental illness. The literature identifies a lack of nursing knowledge related to physical health care and the presence of metabolic syndrome which is impeding nurses in providing essential physical health care to patients. An integrated literature review was carried out due to the dearth of research evidence pertaining to the impact of targeted education specifically with psychiatric/mental health nurses in the provision of physical healthcare. A search for literature included the following databases: CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Embase and Web of Science revealed nine studies: seven quantitative, one qualitative and one mixed method. Qualitative synthesis has shed light on the value of targeted education on improving knowledge and skills in providing physical health care that can then be translated into clinical practice. Targeted education in physical healthcare grows psychiatric/mental health nurse's confidence and develops the skills necessary to enable them to screen and monitor and offer range of physical health interventions to individuals with severe mental illness. Accessible summary • The poor physical health outcomes and premature death of individuals with severe mental illness is of growing concern; a contributing factor is a lack of knowledge and confidence amongst psychiatric/mental health nurses to providing physical health screening and intervening in preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. • An integrated literature review was used to ascertain if targeted education on physical health care can improve the knowledge base of psychiatric/mental health nurses within physical health care. • Nine studies were critically appraised, and the data reduced using a narrative synthesis that tells a story of the findings from these research studies. • The review found that targeted education with psychiatric/mental health nurses does result in a statistical increase in knowledge This review finds that nurses have not been regularly supported with physical health education to alter existing practices. This lack of knowledge within physical healthcare is hindering psychiatric/mental health nurses to fully engaging in physical health care activities in practice.

Mental health nurses’ experience of physical health care and health promotion initiatives for people with severe mental illness

“…There was a wish for somatic competence among mental health nurses, which is in line with the need for a more integrated education for nurses to improve the overall health for people with SMI (Martin ). Furthermore, even if knowledge of risk factors for physical ill health appears to be good among mental health nurses (Bolton et al ), there is a need for education and support if they are to be able to promote health and to provide physical health care in practice (Hennessy & Cocoman ). Although the nurses’ opinion in the present study was that physical and mental health are integrated, mental health was often prioritized over physical health.…”

A practical toolkit to support Australian mental health clinicians to manage Metabolic Syndrome: A pilot study

“…2012). People living with mental illness experience a life expectancy of up to 20 years less than the general population primarily due to preventable physical health conditions including MetS and cardiovascular disease (Hennessy & Cocoman 2018). Cardiovascular disease accounts for 80% of deaths among people living with mental illness, whilst 14% of deaths are by suicide (Lawrence et al .…”

“…Clinicians working within mental health services are well placed to improve the physical health outcomes of patients. However, clinicians report they lack knowledge and confidence in providing physical health care, screening in MetS, and intervening in preventable non‐communicable conditions (Gray & Brown 2017; Hennessy & Cocoman 2018).…”

“…Evidence demonstrates improving clinicians’ knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing physical health issues through targeted education statistically reduces health inequalities and improves outcomes for patients with severe mental illness (Hennessy & Cocoman 2018). However, targeted education is not enough; changing culture and attitudes to focus on the physical health care of patients with severe mental illness is required (Happell et al .…”

“…Implementing a physical health culture within mental health services has been recommended as initial treatment (Firth et al . 2019), whilst practice guidelines on screening and intervening on metabolic health must be a priority within mental health services (Hennessy & Cocoman 2018).…”