Public health nurses' perception of their roles in relation to psychotropic drug use by adolescents: a phenomenographic study

Stress management training program for stress reduction and coping improvement in public health nurses: A randomized controlled trial

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the stress management interventional program in reducing occupational stress and improving coping strategies among public health nurses.

DESIGN

A double-blind, cluster-randomized approach was used as a randomization method for this study to evaluate the stress management interventional program.

METHODS

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was carried out in eight comprehensive healthcare centres in Amman city, Jordan; four centres were randomly assigned to each experimental and control group. One hundred and seventy nurses were selected randomly from March 2019 - August 2019 and data were collected by using the Nursing Stress Scale & brief COPE over three data collection times. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measure ANOVA, Independent t test, and chi-squared) were used to answer the research questions of this study.

RESULTS

The results showed that both the levels of occupational stress and coping strategies were significantly different between the two study groups over the three data collection points (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, the stress management program is an effective non-invasive method that can be used to reduce stress levels and improve coping strategies for public health nurses. The implementation of stress management interventions in health care is likely to help nurses manage occupational stress in practice.

IMPACT

Nurses suffer from a high level of occupational stress. In particular, approximately74% of nurses experience severe occupational stress, which can lead to many mental and physical disorders. However, nurses were less able to utilize the correct stress preventive strategies due to gaps in knowledge, skills, and awareness. This study contributed to the provision of empirical evidence of the effectiveness of the stress management program in reducing occupational stress and improving coping strategies among public health nurses. A stress management intervention program is a valuable non-invasive method that can be used by healthcare organizations to reduce stress levels and improve coping strategies for nurses in practice.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03833986.

Public health nurses' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration related to adolescents' mental health problems in secondary schools: A phenomenographic study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the variation in public health nurses' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration related to adolescents' mental health problems in secondary schools in Norway.

BACKGROUND

Mental health problems among adolescents account for a large portion of the global burden of disease and affect 10%-20% of adolescents worldwide. Public health nurses in school health services play an important role in disease prevention and promotion of physical and mental health. In order to serve adolescents with regard to mental health problems, public health nurses are dependent on collaboration with other professionals in schools.

DESIGN

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 public health nurses working in the school health services.

METHOD

A phenomenographic approach was used for interviewing and for analysing the qualitative interviews. This study is presented in line with COREQ's checklist.

RESULT

The analysis resulted in three descriptive categories based on eight identified conceptions. The categories are as follows: "The formal structure has an impact on interprofessional collaboration"; "The public health nurse is an important, but not always self-evident, partner in interprofessional collaboration"; and "The primary players are the teachers in collaboration."

CONCLUSION

The public health nurses describe that they had limited impact on collaboration and were dependent on both the school principal and the teachers for achieving good collaboration. Teachers have the power to decide whether to collaborate with the public health nurse, and public health nurses regard teachers as the most important collaborative partners. The public health nurses need to make themselves and their competence visible.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings demonstrated that public health nurses are important collaborators, but are not always included in interprofessional collaboration. This knowledge is essential to strengthen public health nurses' roles and presence in schools, which could most certainly benefit adolescents with mental health problems in secondary school.

Mental health work in school health services and school nurses' involvement and attitudes, in a Norwegian context

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore school nurses' experiences with and attitudes towards working with young people with mental health problem in the school health services.

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, 10%-20% of children and adolescents are affected by mental health problems. When these occur during youth, they constitute a considerable burden and are one of the main causes of disability among adolescents. School nurses are at the forefront of care for children and adolescents, identifying pupils struggling with physical, mental, psychosocial or emotional issues.

DESIGN

A qualitative, explorative study was performed based on open-ended questions in a cross-sectional study of 284 school nurses in Norway. Inclusion criteria were as follows: working as a school nurse in the school health services with children and adolescents between the ages of 11-18 years. A qualitative inductive content analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Three generic categories emerged: perception of their role and experiences with mental health: the school nurses acknowledge their important role in work with adolescents focusing on their mental health. Perception of their professional competence: the school nurses described a lack of confidence and unmet training needs concerning mental health problems. Experiences with collaboration: the school nurses requested more knowledge about inter- and multidisciplinary cooperation regarding follow-up of pupils with mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The school nurses lacked knowledge and confidence in respect of working with children and adolescents suffering from mental health problems. This may be a barrier to giving pupils adequate aid.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses need to acquire more knowledge about mental health problems among children and adolescents as this is a growing public health issue. Educational programmes for school nurses need to be revised to achieve this.

Experience of psychotropic drug use among young people with mental health problems

The aim of the study is to describe the experience of psychotropic drug use among young people with mental health problems. Young people experience mental health problems, and some will need to take psychotropic drugs for either a short or a long time. Psychotropic drugs may be effective in reducing mental distress, but raise questions about increasing use, side effects, long-term treatment and off-label use. Qualitative interviews were accomplished with eight young people who had taken psychotropic drugs. Three categories were identified: ‘Effects of psychotropic drugs’, ‘Access of professional care and follow-up’ and ‘Social life and psychotropic drug use’. The young people experienced both beneficial and undesired effects from the psychotropic drugs. They experienced lack of access to professional support and follow-up. Life with family and friends was influenced negatively by psychotropic drug use and the young people were afraid of being lonely and stigmatized. The results may have implications for those who work with young people. Young people striving with mental health problems and psychotropic drug use have to have access to professional support and follow-up. Knowledge about effects of psychotropic drug use among young people is needed. The work about openness about mental health problems among young people has to continue.