Care provision to prevent chronic disease by community mental health clinicians

Increasing chronic disease preventive care in community mental health services: clinician-generated strategies

BACKGROUND

People with a mental health condition experience a high prevalence of chronic disease risk behaviours e.g., tobacco smoking and physical inactivity. Recommended 'preventive care' to address these risks is infrequently provided by community mental health services. This study aimed to elucidate, among community mental health managers and clinicians, suggestions for strategies to support provision of preventive care.

METHODS

Three qualitative focus groups (n = 14 clinicians) were undertaken in one regional community mental health service to gather perspectives of barriers to preventive care provision, deductively coded against the domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Drawing on the learnings from the focus groups, individual interviews (n = 15 managers and clinicians) were conducted in two services to identify suggestions for strategies to increase preventive care. Strategies were inductively coded and mapped into TDF domains.

RESULTS

Barriers were identified across a wide range of TDF domains, most notably knowledge and environmental context and resources. Nine strategies were identified across three themes: training, resources and systems changes; mapping to all 14 TDF domains.

CONCLUSION

Future research seeking to increase implementation of preventive care may be guided by these findings. There is need for greater recognition and resourcing of preventive care as a priority and integral component of mental health treatment.

Examining service utilisation and impact among consumers of a national mental health stepped care programme in Australia: a protocol using linked administrative data

INTRODUCTION

Mental well-being is a global public health priority with increasing mental health conditions having substantial burden on individuals, health systems and society. 'Stepped care', where services are provided at an intensity to meet the changing needs of the consumer, is the chosen approach to mental health service delivery in primary healthcare in Australia for its efficiencies and patient outcomes; yet limited evidence exists on how the programme is being rolled out and its impact in practice. This protocol outlines a data linkage project to characterise and quantify healthcare service utilisation and impacts among a cohort of consumers of a national mental health stepped care programme in one region of Australia.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Data linkage will be used to establish a retrospective cohort of consumers of mental health stepped care services between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2021 in one primary healthcare region in Australia (n=approx. 12 710). These data will be linked with records from other healthcare service data sets (eg, hospitalisations, emergency department presentations, community-based state government-delivered mental healthcare, hospital costs). Four areas for analysis will include: (1) characterising the nature of mental health stepped care service use; (2) describing the cohort's sociodemographic and health characteristics; (3) quantifying broader service utilisation and associated economic costs; and (4) assessing the impact of mental health stepped care service utilisation on health and service outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Approval from the Darling Downs Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREA/2020/QTDD/65518) has been granted. All data will be non-identifiable, and research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and industry meetings.

Barriers to the Provision of Preventive Care to People Living with Mental Health Conditions: Self-Report by Staff Working in an Australian Community Managed Organisation

People living with mental health conditions experience a reduced life expectancy largely due to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. Addressing health risk behaviours, including tobacco smoking, inadequate nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity (SNAP), through the provision of preventive care, is recommended to reduce this burden. Community Managed Organisations (CMOs) may play an important role in providing preventive care to consumers with mental health conditions, however, few studies have examined preventive care provision in CMO settings; and no studies have comprehensively assessed barriers to the provision of this care using a tool such as the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). To fill this research gap, we conducted an online survey among staff (N = 190) from one CMO in Australia to (1) identify barriers to preventive care provision (ask, advise, assist, connect) to address SNAP behaviours among consumers; and (2) explore associations between barriers and preventive care provision. Results demonstrate that while staff reported knowing how to provide preventive care and believed it would positively impact consumers; barriers including confidence in providing this care and consumer uptake of referrals, were identified. Further research among multiple CMOs is needed to identify care provision and associated barriers in the sector more widely.

The Effectiveness and Cost of an Intervention to Increase the Provision of Preventive Care in Community Mental Health Services: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Preventive care to address chronic disease risk behaviours is infrequently provided by community mental health services. In this cluster-randomised controlled trial, 12 community mental health services in 3 Local Health Districts in New South Wales, Australia, will be randomised to either an intervention group (implementing a new model of providing preventive care) or a control group (usual care). The model of care comprises three components: (1) a dedicated ‘healthy choices’ consultation offered by a ‘healthy choices’ clinician; (2) embedding information regarding risk factors into clients’ care plans; and (3) the continuation of preventive care by mental health clinicians in ongoing consultations. Evidence-based implementation strategies will support the model implementation, which will be tailored by being co-developed with service managers and clinicians. The primary outcomes are client-reported receipt of: (1) an assessment of chronic disease risks (tobacco smoking, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, harmful alcohol use and physical inactivity); (2) brief advice regarding relevant risk behaviours; and (3) referral to at least one behaviour change support. Resources to develop and implement the intervention will be captured to enable an assessment of cost effectiveness and affordability. The findings will inform the development of future service delivery initiatives to achieve guideline- and policy-concordant preventive care delivery.

Preventive care practices to address health behaviours among people living with mental health conditions: A survey of Community Managed Organisations

People living with mental health conditions have a reduced life expectancy of approximately 10 years compared to the general population, largely due to physical chronic diseases and higher rates of tobacco smoking, poor nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and poor sleep behaviours. Community managed organisations (CMOs) may play a valuable role in providing preventive care to people with mental health conditions (consumers) to address these health behaviours. This paper reports the findings of a cross-sectional survey undertaken between November 2018 and February 2019 with leaders of CMOs (n = 76) that support people with mental health conditions in the state of New South Wales, Australia to: 1) measure the provision of preventive care (screening, support, and connections to specialist services) for five health behaviours; 2) identify the presence of key organisational features (e.g., data collection, staff training); and 3) explore if these organisational features were associated with the provision of preventive care. Preventive care provision to a majority of consumers (50% or more) was least frequently reported for tobacco smoking and most frequently reported for physical activity. Staff training and guidelines regarding the provision of preventive care were associated with the provision of such care. The results demonstrate that CMOs are already engaged in providing preventive care to some extent, with certain behaviours and preventive care elements addressed more frequently than others. Further research with additional CMO stakeholders, including staff and consumers, is needed to gain a deeper understanding of factors that may underlie CMOs capacity to routinely provide preventive care.

Barriers and Possible Solutions to Providing Physical Health Care in Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Study of Danish Key Informants' Perspectives

Provision of physical health care to people diagnosed with severe mental illness is widely reported as inadequate. This interview study explored perspectives of a group of key informants on current practices of providing physical health care within two mental health care settings in Denmark. Thematic analysis of their accounts provided insights into 1) barriers to the provision of physical health care in mental health settings, and 2) possible solutions to overcome existing barriers. Negative attitudes and limited specialist health care knowledge among mental health care professionals constituted serious barriers. To effectively address these barriers, mental health services need to be reoriented towards the prioritisation of physical health alongside mental health. This will require equipping mental health professionals with relevant knowledge and skills and organisational resources, to effectively work with people experiencing or at risk of physical comorbidities.

Unmet Need for Medical Care: The Role of Mental Health Status

Mental health status is an important factor to consider when exploring correlates of unmet need for medical care and prescription drugs. This paper explores whether self-rated mental health status is associated with unmet need and delays in obtaining medical care and prescription drugs. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression with 27,305 non-institutionalized adults aged 18 and older from the 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey explore factors associated with self-reported unmet need for medical care and prescriptions, as well as access delays. Patients with lower physical and mental health status had the highest odds of experiencing unmet need for medical care and prescriptions, as well as access delays. These findings highlight the importance of increasing access to a usual source of care among individuals with lower self-rated mental health status as a strategy for addressing unmet need.

Do Mental Health Professionals Promote a Healthy Lifestyle among Individuals Experiencing Serious Mental Illness?

Purpose: While a healthy lifestyle would be an asset to people experiencing psychotic disorders, not all mental health professionals provide counselling regarding healthy behaviours, such as physical activity, healthy nutrition, and tobacco cessation. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with health promotion practice (HPP) among mental health professionals.Methods: Cross-sectional survey including mental health professionals across the Province of Quebec (Canada). The promotion of health behaviour and the "Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire - Health Practitioner Version" and its adaptation for nutrition improvement and tobacco cessation were used to evaluate knowledge, beliefs, promotion behaviours, and barriers to HPP.Results: One hundred mental health professionals, most being nurses (29%) and medical doctors/psychiatrists (20%) were recruited throughout the province of Quebec (Canada). The rate of formal training among professionals was 11% for physical activity, 26% for nutrition, and 21% for tobacco cessation. Approximately 60% were promoting physical activity, 49% good nutrition, and 41% tobacco cessation. Professionals promoting healthy behaviours had a higher level of self-efficacy in HPP, were more likely to value physical health, and less likely to endorse barriers to HPP.Conclusion: Rates of formal training in lifestyle habits and health promotion (aiming at improving a healthy lifestyle in patients experiencing psychotic disorders) among mental health professionals are currently low in the Province of Quebec and need to be improved. In addition, the level of confidence and barriers that endorse healthy behaviours appear to be key factors in HPP among mental health professionals.

Effectiveness of embedding a specialist preventive care clinician in a community mental health service in increasing preventive care provision: A randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Clinical practice guidelines recommend that community mental health services provide preventive care for clients' chronic disease risk behaviours; however, such care is often not routinely provided. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of offering clients an additional consultation with a specialist clinician embedded within a community mental health service, in increasing client-reported receipt of, and satisfaction with, preventive care.

METHOD

A randomised controlled trial was undertaken in one Australian community mental health service. Participants (N = 811) were randomised to receive usual care (preventive care in routine consultations; n = 405) or usual care plus the offer of an additional consultation with a specialist preventive care clinician (n = 406). Blinded interviewers assessed at baseline and 1-month follow-up the client-reported receipt of preventive care (assessment, advice and referral) for four key risk behaviours individually (smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol overconsumption and physical inactivity) and all applicable risks combined, acceptance of referrals and satisfaction with preventive care received.

RESULTS

Analyses indicated significantly greater increases in 12 of the 18 preventive care delivery outcomes in the intervention compared to the usual care condition from baseline to follow-up, including assessment for all risks combined (risk ratio = 4.00; 95% confidence interval = [1.57, 10.22]), advice for all applicable risks combined (risk ratio = 2.40; 95% confidence interval = [1.89, 6.47]) and offer of referral to applicable telephone services combined (risk ratio = 20.13; 95% confidence interval = [2.56, 158.04]). For each component of care, there was a significant intervention effect for at least one of the individual risk behaviours. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with preventive care received, ranging from 77% (assessment) to 87% (referral), with no significant differences between conditions.

CONCLUSION

The intervention had a significant effect on the provision of the majority of recommended elements of preventive care. Further research is needed to maximise its impact, including identifying strategies to increase client uptake.

Uptake of a preventive care consultation offered to clients of a community mental health service

Preventive care to address client chronic disease risks is not frequently provided in community mental health services. Offering clients an additional preventive care consultation has been shown to increase client receipt of such care. The ability of this approach to have a beneficial impact at the population level is however dependent on its level of acceptability and uptake among clients. No studies have previously reported these outcomes when the additional consultation is universally offered to all clients of a community mental health service. To address this evidence gap, this descriptive study was undertaken to determine community mental health clients' (1) reported acceptability, in principle, of such a model of care, (2) of those who were offered the additional consultation, the level of uptake, and (3) clinical and socio-demographic characteristics associated with uptake. Participants were clients of one community mental health service in Australia. Data were collected in 2017 by telephone interviews and study records. Data from three distinct participant sub-groups are reported. In response to a hypothetical question, 79.3% of participants (n = 157) agreed that an offer of an additional preventive care consultation would be acceptable (Aim 1). Of the participants who were offered such a consultation (n = 264), 37.8% took up the offer (Aim 2); and no clinical or sociodemographic characteristics were significantly associated with uptake (Aim 3). Findings support the feasibility of this model of care. However, further research is needed to identify barriers to uptake, and effective strategies to enhance consultation uptake. Trial registration: ACTRN12616001519448.

An economic evaluation of a specialist preventive care clinician in a community mental health service: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Clinical practice guidelines and policies direct community mental health services to provide preventive care to address chronic disease risks, however, such care is infrequently provided in routine consultations. An alternative model of care is to appoint a clinician to the dedicated role of offering and providing preventive care in an additional consultation: the 'specialist clinician' model. Economic evaluations of models of care are needed to determine the cost of adhering to guidelines and policies, and to inform pragmatic service delivery decisions. This study is an economic evaluation of the specialist clinician model; designed to achieve policy concordant preventive care delivery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the incremental costs, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of a 'specialist preventive care clinician' (an occupational therapist) was conducted in a randomised controlled trial, where participants were randomised to receive usual care; or usual care plus the offer of an additional preventive care consultation with the specialist clinician. The study outcome was client acceptance of referrals to two free telephone-based chronic disease prevention services. This is a key care delivery outcome mandated by the local health district policy of the service. The base case analysis assumed the mental health service cost perspective. A budget impact analysis determined the annual budget required to implement the model of care for all clients of the community mental health service over 5 years.

RESULTS

There was a significantly greater increase from baseline to follow-up in the proportion of intervention participants accepting referrals to both telephone services, compared to usual care. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $347 per additional acceptance of a referral (CI: $263-$494). The annual budget required to implement the model of care for all prospective clients was projected to be $711,446 over 5-years; resulting in 2616 accepted referrals.

CONCLUSIONS

The evaluation provides key information regarding the costs for the mental health service to adhere to policy targets, indicating the model of care involved a low per client cost whilst increasing key preventive care delivery outcomes. Additional modelling is required to further explore its economic benefits.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12616001519448. Registered 3 November 2016, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371709.

Mental health status among women of reproductive age from underserved communities in the United States and the associations between depression and physical health. A cross-sectional study

Background

In 2017, 46.6 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older self-reported as having mental illness of which 52.0% or 24.2 million are women age 18–49. Perinatal depression and anxiety are linked to adverse outcomes concerning pregnancy, maternal functioning, and healthy child development.

Methods and findings

Using the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), the objectives of the cross-sectional study are to assess the prevalence of self-reported mental health conditions among female patients of reproductive age and to examine the association between depression and physical health. Physical health conditions of interest included self-rated health, obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes, which all have established associations with potential pregnancy complications and fetal health. The study found 40.8% of patients reported depression; 28.8% reported generalized anxiety; and 15.2% met the criteria for serious psychological distress on the Kessler 6 scale. Furthermore, patients with depression had two to three times higher odds of experiencing co-occurring physical health conditions.

Conclusions

This study expands the discourse on maternal mental health, throughout the preconception, post-partum, and inter-conception care periods to improve understanding of the inter-correlated physical and mental health issues that could impact pregnancy outcomes and life course trajectory. From 2014 to 2018, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has supported investments of nearly $750 million to improve and expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services for prevention, treatment, health education and awareness through comprehensive primary care integration. Moving forward, HRSA will implement strategic training and technical assistance (T/TA) framework that is designed to accelerate the adoption of science driven solutions in primary care in addressing depression for patients with co-occurring chronic conditions and advancing positive maternal outcomes.

The effectiveness of health behavior change interventions in managing physical health in people with a psychotic illness: A systematic review

PURPOSE

People living with psychotic illness disproportionately experience more comorbidities and have a markedly shorter life expectancy compared to the general population. This review evaluates the effectiveness of health behavior change interventions in improving health outcomes in this group.

DESIGN AND METHODS

All studies included objective physical health measures or health behaviors as the main outcome measures and experimental design with baseline and follow-up quantitative data. Only studies of moderate and strong quality were included. Narrative synthesis was undertaken.

FINDINGS

Included studies utilized a range of methodological designs and outcome measures. The majority reported significant intervention effect on most outcome measures.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Health behavior change interventions can be effective in improving health outcomes in people with psychotic illness, with the potential benefit of improved psychiatric outcomes.

effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Independent living ability is crucial for the elderly; however, its assessment performed in China employs various scales and lacks risk factors, especially behavioural and social-psychological factors, which could be improved through health education. This study aimed to assess the independent living ability of community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of China and to identify the association with behavioral and social-psychological factors.

DESIGN

A population-based study using random cluster sampling method was performed in two core cities in Liaoning Province during March-November 2012.

STUDY POPULATION

3686 individuals who were >=65 years old, had no dementia and cognitive impairment, had lived in the sampled communities for >=5 years and could take part in the study were enrolled.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Interviews were conducted to collect information of independent living ability, indicated by the instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), behavioural factors, social-psychological factors and confounders (demographic characteristics and health status). The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to screen for cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

The independence rate was 46.3% in men and 41.1% in women. Structural equation modelling analysis showed that physical activity, drawn from taking a walk and doing exercise, had the strongest association with the IADL in both men (-0.34, SE 0.10) and women (-0.33, SE 0.11). Falling in the last year and worrying about falling were also significantly associated with IADL. The effects of regular drinking, feeling lonely and participating in entertainment were significant in men.

CONCLUSION

The independent living ability of the elderly in urban areas in Liaoning Province in China was at a low level. Physical activity was one of the important roles in both men and women; whereas the role of social-psychological factors only existed in men. Gender-specific healthcare and education to avoid sedentary life should be advocated for the elderly to maintain/improve their independent living ability.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the provision of preventive care for modifiable chronic disease risk behaviours by mental health services

People with mental illness experience increased chronic disease burden, contributed to by a greater prevalence of modifiable chronic disease risk behaviours. Policies recommend mental health services provide preventive care for such risk behaviours. Provision of such care has not previously been synthesised. This review assessed the provision of preventive care for modifiable chronic disease risk behaviours by mental health services. Four databases were searched from 2006 to 2017. Eligible studies were observational quantitative study designs conducted in mental health services, where preventive care was provided to clients for tobacco smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, inadequate nutrition, or inadequate physical activity. Two reviewers independently screened studies, conducted data extraction and critical appraisal. Results were pooled as proportions of clients receiving or clinicians providing preventive care using random effects meta-analyses, by risk behaviour and preventive care element (ask/assess, advise, assist, arrange). Subgroup analyses were conducted by mental health service type (inpatient, outpatient, other/multiple). Narrative synthesis was used where meta-analysis was not possible. Thirty-eight studies were included with 26 amenable to meta-analyses. Analyses revealed that rates of assessment were highest for smoking (78%, 95% confidence interval [CI]:59%–96%) and lowest for nutrition (17%, 95% CI:1%–35%); with variable rates of care provision for all behaviours, care elements, and across service types, with substantial heterogeneity across analyses. Findings indicated suboptimal and variable provision of preventive care for modifiable chronic disease risk behaviours in mental health services, but should be considered with caution due to the very low quality of cumulative evidence.

PROSPERO registration: CRD42016049889.

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First meta-analysis of chronic disease preventive care provided by mental health service settings

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Assessed preventive care for smoking, alcohol, nutrition, and physical activity in mental health settings

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Provision of preventive care varied across risk behaviours, care elements, and service types.

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Findings indicate suboptimal provision of preventive care for health risk behaviours.

Mental health care professionals' accounts of actions and responsibilities related to managing physical health among people with severe mental illness

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is greatly shortened compared to the general population, and despite extensive research, this issue is unsolved. Although it is widely recognised that people with SMI need support from health care services to manage health related issues, profound health inequalities exist within provision of health care. The aim of this study was to examine how mental health care professionals accounted for their actions and responsibilities related to managing physical health issues among people with SMI.

METHODS

Three focus groups were conducted with 22 mental health care professionals, employed at three mental health care locations. Participants' situated accounts were subjected to discourse analysis.

RESULTS

Participants accounted for actions and responsibilities in three typical ways; 1) by positioning people with SMI as difficult to motivate and actively resisting intervention, 2) by positioning people with SMI as so impaired that intervention was futile, and 3) by arguing they are undertreated for physical conditions and might have physical illnesses that staff are not aware of because of prominent mental illness. These discursive strategies seemed to legitimise situations where participants described not responding to physical health issues, and to downplay potential trouble in situations where participants described not succeeding in facilitating lifestyle changes or promoting compliance to treatment of physical conditions.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Mental health care professionals need to increase their awareness of latent discriminating attitudes towards people with SMI. Such attitudes are suggested to reinforce barriers for people with SMI receiving physical health care.

Providing physical health care for people accessing mental health services: Clinicians' perceptions of their role

The prevalence of health risk behaviours and associated poor physical health is high in people with severe mental illness. Mental health service guidelines and policies stipulate that mental health services should address physical health of people who access services. This study reports results from a large, interdisciplinary, cross-sectional study exploring mental health clinicians' (n = 385) views of role legitimacy in physical health service provision. All disciplines reported that mental health clinicians have a role to play in addressing the physical health of consumers. Among mental health clinicians, psychiatrists and mental health nurses received higher endorsement than allied health clinicians in relation to the provision of physical health care, with primary care providers including general practitioners also ranking highly. As community mental health services routinely appoint allied health staff to case management roles, a challenge for services and a challenge for clinicians are to ensure that physical health and the effects of medication are monitored appropriately and systematically. Online and telephone support services received relatively lower endorsement. As the availability of nonface to face services increases, there is a need to explore their utility in this population and where appropriate promote their uptake.

IntEgrating Smoking Cessation treatment As part of usual Psychological care for dEpression and anxiety (ESCAPE): protocol for a randomised and controlled, multicentre, acceptability, feasibility and implementation trial

BACKGROUND

People with depression/anxiety are twice as likely to smoke and are less responsive to standard tobacco treatments, leading to a reduced life expectancy of up to  13.6 years compared to people without depression/anxiety. However, this group of smokers is motivated to quit, and as a result of quitting smoking, their depression/anxiety is likely to improve. In England, people with depression/anxiety are referred to a primary care-based psychological therapies service known as 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' (IAPT), which could offer smoking cessation treatment as part of usual care but currently does not. In this study, we aim (1) to establish the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a smoking cessation treatment alongside IAPT usual care and (2) to establish the feasibility of a multi-centre randomised trial to compare the combined smoking cessation and IAPT treatment to usual IAPT treatment alone.

METHODS

A randomised and controlled, multi-centre trial to test the acceptability, feasibility and implementation of smoking cessation treatment as offered alongside usual IAPT care, compared to usual care alone, with nested qualitative methods. We will include adult daily smokers with depression/anxiety, who would like help to quit smoking and are about to start IAPT treatment. Follow-up will be conducted at 3-months after baseline. The main outcome will be retention in the smoking cessation treatment. Secondary outcomes are smoking-related (biochemically-verified 7-day point prevalence smoking cessation, number of cigarettes smoked per day, Heaviness of Smoking Index), mental health-related (PHQ-9), service-related (number of 'Did Not Attends', number of planned and completed IAPT sessions), acceptability and feasibility (participant and clinician acceptability and satisfaction of intervention as assessed by questionnaires and qualitative interviews, interviews will also explore acceptability and feasibility of data collection procedures and impact of smoking cessation treatment on usual care and mental health recovery) and implementation-related (intervention delivery checklist, qualitative analysis of intervention delivery).

DISCUSSION

If the intervention is shown to be acceptable, feasible and suitably implemented, we can conduct a randomised controlled trial. In a future trial, we would examine whether adding smoking cessation treatment increases smoking abstinence and improves depression and anxiety more than usual care, which would lead to long-term health improvement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN99531779.

Providing routine chronic disease preventive care in community substance use services: a pilot study of a multistrategic clinical practice change intervention

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the potential effectiveness of a practice change intervention in increasing preventive care provision in community-based substance use treatment services. In addition, client and clinician acceptability of care were examined.

DESIGN

A pre-post trial conducted from May 2012 to May 2014.

SETTING

Public community-based substance use treatment services (n=15) in one health district in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Surveys were completed by 226 clients and 54 clinicians at baseline and 189 clients and 46 clinicians at follow-up.

INTERVENTIONS

A 12-month multistrategic clinician practice change intervention that aimed to increase the provision of preventive care for smoking, insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption and insufficient physical activity.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Client and clinician reported provision of assessment, brief advice and referral for three modifiable health risk behaviours: smoking, insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption and insufficient physical activity. Clinician-reported optimal care was defined as providing care to 80% of clients or more. Client acceptability and clinician attitudes towards preventive care were assessed at follow-up.

RESULTS

Increases in client reported care were observed for insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption including: assessment (24% vs 54%, p<0.001), brief advice (26% vs 46%, p<0.001), and clinicians speaking about (10% vs 31%, p<0.001) and arranging a referral (1% vs 8%, p=0.006) to telephone helplines. Clinician reported optimal care delivery increased for: assessment of insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption (22% vs 63%, p<0.001) and speaking about telephone helplines for each of the three health risk behaviours. Overall, clients and clinicians held favourable views regarding preventive care.

CONCLUSION

This study reported increases in preventive care for insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption; however, minimal increases were observed for smoking or insufficient physical activity. Further investigation of the barriers to preventive care delivery in community substance use settings is needed.

TRIALREGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12614000469617.

Do mental health consumers want to improve their long-term disease risk behaviours? A survey of over 2000 psychiatric inpatients

Policies and clinical guidelines acknowledge the role mental health services have in addressing the physical health of individuals with a mental illness; however, little research has explored interest in reducing health risk behaviours or the acceptability of receiving support to reduce such risks among psychiatric inpatients. This study estimated the prevalence of four long-term disease risk behaviours (tobacco smoking, hazardous alcohol consumption, inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption, and inadequate physical activity); patient interest in reducing these risks; and acceptability of being provided care to do so during a psychiatric inpatient stay. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with 2075 inpatients from four inpatient psychiatric facilities in one health district in Australia (October 2012-April 2014). Prevalence of risk behaviours ranged from 50.2% (inadequate physical activity) to 94.8% (inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption). The majority of respondents (88.4%) had more than one risk behaviour, and most were seriously considering improving their risk behaviours (47.6% to 65.3%). The majority (80.4%) agreed that it would be acceptable to be provided support and advice to change such behaviours during their psychiatric inpatient stay. Some diagnoses were associated with smoking and hazardous alcohol consumption, interest in reducing alcohol consumption and increasing fruit and/or vegetable consumption, and acceptability of receiving advice and support. The findings reinforce the need and opportunity for psychiatric inpatient facilities to address the long-term disease risk behaviours of their patients.

Systematic review of interventions to increase the provision of care for chronic disease risk behaviours in mental health settings: review protocol

BACKGROUND

People with a mental illness experience a higher morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases relative to the general population. A higher prevalence of risk behaviours, including tobacco smoking, poor nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, is a substantial contributor to this health inequity. Clinical practice guidelines recommend that mental health services routinely provide care to their clients to address these risk behaviours. Such care may include the following elements: ask, assess, advise, assist and arrange (the '5As'), which has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing risk behaviours. Despite this potential, the provision of such care is reported to be low internationally and in Australia, and there is a need to identify effective strategies to increase care provision. The proposed review will examine the effectiveness of interventions which aimed to increase care provision (i.e. increase the proportion of clients receiving or clinicians providing the 5As) for the chronic disease risk behaviours of clients within the context of mental health service delivery.

METHODS

Eligible studies will be any quantitative study designs with a comparison group and which report on the effectiveness of an intervention strategy (including delivery arrangements, financial arrangements, governance arrangements and implementation strategies) to increase care provision specifically for chronic disease risk behaviours (tobacco smoking, poor nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity). Screening for studies will be conducted across seven electronic databases: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Two authors will independently screen studies for eligibility and extract data from included studies. Where studies are sufficiently homogenous, meta-analysis will be performed. Where considerable heterogeneity exists (I 2  ≥ 75), narrative synthesis will be used.

DISCUSSION

This review will be the first to synthesise evidence for the effectiveness of intervention approaches to facilitate care provision for chronic disease risk behaviours in the context of mental health service delivery. The results have the potential to inform the development of evidenced-based approaches to address the health inequities experienced by this population group.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42017074360 .

Supporting change in chronic disease risk behaviours for people with a mental illness: a qualitative study of the experiences of family carers

Background

People with a mental illness experience greater chronic disease morbidity and mortality, and associated reduced life expectancy, compared to those without such an illness. A higher prevalence of chronic disease risk behaviours (inadequate nutrition, inadequate physical activity, tobacco smoking, and harmful alcohol consumption) is experienced by this population. Family carers have the potential to support change in such behaviours among those they care for with a mental illness. This study aimed to explore family carers’: 1) experiences in addressing the chronic disease risk behaviours of their family members; 2) existing barriers to addressing such behaviours; and 3) perceptions of potential strategies to assist them to provide risk behaviour change support.

Methods

A qualitative study of four focus groups (n = 31), using a semi-structured interview schedule, was conducted with carers of people with a mental illness in New South Wales, Australia from January 2015 to February 2016. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to explore the experience of carers in addressing the chronic disease risk behaviours.

Results

Two main themes were identified in family carers’ report of their experiences: firstly, that health behaviours were salient concerns for carers and that they were engaged in providing support, and secondly that they perceived a bidirectional relationship between health behaviours and mental well-being. Key barriers to addressing behaviours were: a need to attend to carers’ own well-being; defensiveness on behalf of the family member; and not residing with their family member; with other behaviour-specific barriers also identified. Discussion around strategies which would assist carers in providing support for health risk behaviours identified a need for improved communication and collaboration between carers and health services accessed by their family members.

Conclusions

Additional support from general and mental health services accessed by family members is desired to assist carers to address the barriers to providing behaviour change support. Carers have the potential to support and extend health service interventions aimed at improving the chronic disease risk behaviours of people with a mental illness but may require additional information, and collaboration from services. Further research is needed to explore these constructs in a large representative sample.

Impact of obesity and mood disorders on physical comorbidities, psychological well-being, health behaviours and use of health services

BACKGROUND

Albeit obesity and mood disorders frequently co-occur, few studies examined the impacts of this co-occurrence. The aim was to compare individuals with obesity and mood disorders (ObMD) to those with obesity without mood disorder in terms of physical comorbidities, psychological well-being, health behaviours and use of health services.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study using the Canadian Community Health Survey including a weighted sample of individuals with obesity (n = 1298) representing inhabitants from the province of Quebec (Canada).

RESULTS

Adjusted multivariate logistic regressions indicated that ObMD reported more physical conditions with odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.8 [95%CI: 1.1 - 2.8] (hypertension) to 2.8 [95%CI: 1.3 - 6.0] (stomach ulcer). Also, ObMD reported poorer psychological well-being with OR ranging from 2.1 [95%CI: 1.4 - 3.3] (stress) to 25.6 [95%CI: 14.7 - 45.0] (poor perceived mental health). ObMD also reported more consultations with health professionals with OR ranging from 1.9 [95%CI: 1.0 - 3.5] (physicians) to 7.7 [95%CI: 4.2 - 14.3] (psychologists), and less healthy behaviours with OR ranging from 1.7 [95%CI: 1.1 - 2.6] (fruits and vegetables intake) to 2.1 [95%CI: 1.3 - 3.3] (tobacco).

LIMITATIONS

Self-reported data so we cannot discard the possibility of a bias in reporting. Also, given the cross-sectional design, no directional conclusion or causality about our results is possible.

DISCUSSION

The co-occurrence of mood disorder and obesity seems to be an aggravating factor of obesity-related factors because it is associated with poorer health in several areas. Interventions to prevent or manage obesity in mood disorders are necessary.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle clinician in addressing the chronic disease risk behaviours of community mental health clients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

People with a mental illness experience a greater morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases relative to the general population. A higher prevalence of modifiable health risk behaviours such as smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol consumption contribute substantially to this disparity. Despite clinical practice guidelines recommending that mental health services routinely provide care to address these risk behaviours, the provision of such care is consistently reported to be low internationally and in Australia. This protocol describes a randomised controlled trial that aims to assess the effectiveness of allocating a clinician within a community mental health service to the specific role of providing assessment, advice and referral for clients’ chronic disease risk behaviours.

Methods/design

Approximately 540 clients of one community mental health service will be randomised to receive either usual care for chronic disease risks provided in routine consultations or usual care plus an additional face-to-face consultation and follow-up telephone call with a ‘healthy lifestyle clinician’. The clinician will assess clients’ chronic disease risk behaviours, provide advice to change behaviours, and refer at-risk clients to free telephone coaching services (New South Wales (NSW) Quitline and NSW Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service) for specialist behaviour change care. The primary outcomes, regarding referral to and client uptake of the telephone services, will be obtained from the respective services. Telephone interviews of clients at baseline and at 1 and 6 months post baseline follow-ups will assess secondary outcomes: receipt of any assessment, advice and referral from the mental health service; satisfaction with the receipt of such care; satisfaction with the receipt of any care provided by the telephone services; interest and confidence in and perceived importance of changing risk behaviours; and risk behaviour status.

Discussion

This study will add to the limited literature regarding effective strategies to address chronic disease prevention among the higher risk population of community mental health clients. The results will inform the development of future policies and service delivery initiatives to address the high prevalence of chronic disease risk behaviours among people with a mental illness.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12616001519448. Registered on 3 November 2016.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2017-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Smoking Cessation Care for People with a Mental Illness: Family Carer Expectations of Health and Community Services

Introduction: Smoking prevalence remains high among people with a mental illness, contributing to higher levels of morbidity and mortality. Health and community services are an opportune setting for the provision of smoking cessation care. Although family carers are acknowledged to play a critical role in supporting the care and assistance provided by such services to people with a mental illness, their expectations regarding the delivery of smoking cessation care have not been examined.

Aims: To explore family carer expectations of smoking cessation care provision by four types of health services, to clients with a mental illness, and factors associated with expectations.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with carers of a person with a mental illness residing in New South Wales, Australia. Carers were surveyed regarding their expectations of smoking cessation care provision from four types of health services. Possible associations between carer expectation of smoking cessation care provision and socio-demographic and attitudinal variables were explored.

Results: Of 144 carers, the majority of carers considered that smoking cessation care should be provided by: mental health hospitals (71.4%), community mental health services (78.0%), general practice (82.7%), and non-government organisations (56.6%). The factor most consistently related to expectation of care was a belief that smoking cessation could positively impact mental health.

Conclusions: The majority of carers expected smoking cessation treatment to be provided by all services catering for people with a mental illness, reinforcing the appropriateness for such services to provide smoking cessation care for clients in an effective and systematic manner.

Provision of Chronic Disease Preventive Care in Community Substance Use Services: Client and Clinician Report

INTRODUCTION

People with substance use problems have a higher prevalence of modifiable health risk behaviors. Routine clinician provision of preventive care may be effective in reducing such health behaviors. This study aimed to examine clinician provision of preventive care to clients of community substance use treatment services.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with 386 clients and 54 clinicians of community substance use treatment services in one health district in New South Wales, Australia. Client- and clinician-reported provision of three elements of care (assessment, brief advice and referral) for three health risk behaviors (tobacco smoking, insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption and insufficient physical activity) was assessed, with associations with client characteristics examined.

RESULTS

Provision was highest for tobacco smoking assessment (90% client reported, 87% clinician reported) and brief advice (79% client reported, 80% clinician reported) and lowest for fruit and vegetable consumption (assessment 23%, brief advice 25%). Few clients reported being offered a referral (<10%). Assessment of physical activity and brief advice for all behaviors was higher for clients residing in rural/remote areas.

CONCLUSION

Assessment and brief advice were provided to the majority of clients for smoking, but sub-optimally for the other behaviors. Further investigation of barriers to the provision of preventive care within substance use treatment settings is required, particularly for referral to ongoing support.

Effectiveness of an intervention in increasing the provision of preventive care by community mental health services: a non-randomized, multiple baseline implementation trial

BACKGROUND

Relative to the general population, people with a mental illness are more likely to have modifiable chronic disease health risk behaviours. Care to reduce such risks is not routinely provided by community mental health clinicians. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing the provision of preventive care by such clinicians addressing four chronic disease risk behaviours.

METHODS

A multiple baseline trial was undertaken in two groups of community mental health services in New South Wales, Australia (2011-2014). A 12-month practice change intervention was sequentially implemented in each group. Outcome data were collected continuously via telephone interviews with a random sample of clients over a 3-year period, from 6 months pre-intervention in the first group, to 6 months post intervention in the second group. Outcomes were client-reported receipt of assessment, advice and referral for tobacco smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption and inadequate physical activity and for the four behaviours combined. Logistic regression analyses examined change in client-reported receipt of care.

RESULTS

There was an increase in assessment for all risks combined following the intervention (18 to 29 %; OR 3.55, p = 0.002: n = 805 at baseline, 982 at follow-up). No significant change in assessment, advice or referral for each individual risk was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention had a limited effect on increasing the provision of preventive care. Further research is required to determine how to increase the provision of preventive care in community mental health services.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000693729.

Mental health clinician attitudes to the provision of preventive care for chronic disease risk behaviours and association with care provision

BACKGROUND

Preventive care for chronic disease risk behaviours by mental health clinicians is sub-optimal. Little research has examined the association between clinician attitudes and such care delivery. This study aimed to explore: i) the attitudes of a multi-disciplinary group of community mental health clinicians regarding their perceived role, perception of client interest, and perceived self-efficacy in the provision of preventive care, ii) whether such attitudes differ by professional discipline, and iii) the association between these attitudes and clinician provision of such care.

METHOD

A telephone survey was conducted with 151 Australian community mental health clinicians regarding their attitudes towards provision of assessment, advice and referral addressing smoking, nutrition, alcohol, and physical activity, and their reported provision of such care. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between attitudes and care delivery, and attitudinal differences by professional discipline.

RESULTS

Most clinicians reported that: their manager supported provision of preventive care; such care was part of their role; it would not jeopardise their practitioner-client relationships, clients found preventive care acceptable, and that they had the confidence, knowledge and skills to modify client health behaviours. Half reported that clients were not interested in changing their health behaviours, and one third indicated that the provision of preventive care negatively impacted on time available for delivery of acute care. The following attitudes were positively associated with the provision of preventive care: role congruence, client interest in change, and addressing health risk behaviours will not jeopardise the client-clinician relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Strategies are required to translate positive attitudes to improved client care and address attitudes which may hinder the provision of preventive care in community mental health.

Chronic disease health risk behaviours amongst people with a mental illness

OBJECTIVE

Amongst people with a mental illness, modifiable health risk behaviours contribute substantially to increased chronic disease morbidity and mortality. This study examined the prevalence of and interest in changing such behaviours amongst community mental health service clients in Australia.

METHOD

A telephone interview was undertaken with Australian community mental health service clients. Participants reported engagement in four health risk behaviours: tobacco smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Participants were classified as at risk based upon Australian national guidelines. At-risk participants were asked whether they were considering improving their health risk behaviour within the next month. The association between psychiatric diagnosis and risk, and interest in improving health risk behaviours was examined.

RESULTS

Risk prevalence was highest for inadequate vegetable consumption (78.3%), followed by inadequate fruit consumption (60%), smoking (50.7%), physical inactivity (46.8%), short-term alcohol risk (40.3%) and chronic alcohol risk (35.3%). A majority of at-risk participants were considering improving their health risk behaviour for smoking, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (65.1%, 71.1%, and 53.3%, respectively). After adjusting for demographic factors, no diagnostic categories were associated with risk for any behaviour. Those with a diagnosis of depression were more likely to be interested in quitting smoking and increasing physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of diagnosis, a high prevalence of chronic disease health risk behaviours was identified, with many participants expressing an interest in improving these behaviours. Such findings reinforce recommendations that preventive care addressing the chronic disease risks of clients be provided routinely by mental health clinicians.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12613000693729. URL: www.anzctr.org.au/.