Support and attitudes of Qatar mental health professionals to a proposed mental health inpatient smoking ban: Results of a cross-sectional survey

Assessing child satisfaction and expectations for developing a child-friendly environment at the pediatric department in a general hospital in Qatar

Background

"Patient-centered" care positions the patient at the core and emphasizes fulfilling their unique needs, preferences, and values. This approach is particularly significant in the context of children. Although widely recognized as necessary, this approach is not universally implemented. The children find themselves in hospital wards where they are required to follow protocols and systems designed primarily for adults. In the appropriate atmosphere, children often express themselves more effectively through words, body language, and play, leading to a richer understanding of their needs. There is growing recognition of the importance of addressing children's concerns regarding hospital environments.

Aim

This study investigates children's satisfaction with the physical aspect of the hospital environment. Insights from this exploration could provide valuable input for creating hospital environments centered around children's needs and preferences.

Methods

This mixed-methods study involves children aged 6-14 years with parental consent from a premiere healthcare provider in the state of Qatar. The survey used nine items to gauge satisfaction with the existing hospital environment as a "child-friendly hospital" and another nine items to explore their expectations for such environments. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests as well as thematic analyses were employed to assess the statistical significance of differences in satisfaction levels and children's expectations of the hospital's physical environment.

Results

A total of 398 children participated in the study. Of them, 40.3% were aged 6-8 years; 60.3% had experienced two to five hospital visits; 55.8% of children participated during their outpatient service visit; and 31.7% were Asian. Children's satisfaction levels with various aspects of the hospital environment-including its physical appearance, signage, lounge, consultant rooms, corridors, bedrooms, TV content, toys, and staff uniforms-were in the range of 42.9%-59%. The children expressed a desire for a hospital environment that is spacious, colorful, attractive, and filled with cartoon characters and toys in the children's hospital from the front lounge to the inpatient units.

Conclusion

The findings underline the importance of considering the perspectives of children in evidence-based healthcare design. The study reveals that children's satisfaction with the hospital environment is generally average or below average. Ultimately, a "child-friendly hospital environment" integrates children's rights into healthcare to significantly improve outcomes.

Nurses' views on the provision of physical healthcare for individuals with comorbid mental illness and chronic disease

The prevalence of chronic diseases (such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) continues to increase among patients with mental illness. This cross-sectional study investigated the factors affecting nurses' views on the provision of physical healthcare to patients with comorbid mental illness and chronic disease. In total, 369 nurses working in mental health were assessed for the physical healthcare attitudes and practices using the Physical Health Attitude Scale for Mental Health Nurses. The results of generalized linear modelling indicated that nurses' involvement in physical healthcare was associated with psychiatric mental health nurse credentials (B = 1.560, 95% CI = 0.292-2.828, P = 0.016) and their confidence in delivering physical healthcare was associated with prior physical healthcare training (B = 0.639, 95% CI = 0.104-1.174, P = 0.019). In addition, the frequency with which the nurses engaged in physical healthcare practices was associated with working in a community unit (B = -7.416, 95% CI = -9.652 to -5.180, P < 0.001), involvement in physical healthcare (B = 0.349, 95% CI = 0.162-0.535, P < 0.001), and confidence in delivering physical healthcare (B = 1.148, 95% CI = 0.776-1.519, P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that interventions aiming to help nurses assess and improve their own physical healthcare practices should consider nurses' background and patients' physical health needs in various settings and focus on cultivating an organizational culture that gives nurses confidence in providing physical healthcare.

Patients' and primary carers' views on clozapine treatment for schizophrenia: A cross-sectional study in Qatar

Subjective views of clozapine treatment among patients with schizophrenia in the Middle East and North African MENA Region have not previously been assessed. Globally, few studies have assessed the views of carers to clozapine treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, using a clinician administered structured interview, of patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder prescribed clozapine in Qatar, and their primary carers. Participants were asked to rate clozapine against prior their antipsychotic treatment in terms of specific benefits and side effects. Forty-two patients and 33 carers participated in the study. Of the patients, two thirds were male, approximately half were Qatari and the mean age was 33.9 years. Patients and carers rated clozapine as superior to prior antipsychotic treatment on all 7 potential benefits inquired about. The greatest perceived benefit was improved mood. Patients rated clozapine as less likely to cause extrapyramidal side effects but more likely to cause 18 other potential side effects compared to prior antipsychotic treatment, with the greatest difference being for nocturnal salivation, increased appetite, and constipation. Nearly half of patients (48 %) and two thirds of carers (64 %) stated that they would have preferred to start clozapine earlier in their illness. Sixty percent of patients and 37 % of carers regarded the information that they had received from health professionals on clozapine as inadequate. Less than half of patients and approximately-two thirds of carers had adequate knowledge of haematological monitoring for clozapine. Generally, there were significantly positive correlation between patients and carers regarding the overall side effects of clozapine treatment. Likewise, improvement in hearing voices paranoid thoughts correlated with improved quality of life. In summary, the results show that patients and carers appreciate the benefits of clozapine despite its side effects being problematic. The results support clozapine being offered earlier in treatment and services providing more information on clozapine to patients and carers.

Indicadores hospitalarios y comportamiento de pacientes internados en hospital psiquiátrico que adoptó la prohibición de fumar

Resumen Objetivo: comparar indicadores de internación, alta, costo con medicamentos y comportamientos de los pacientes antes y después de la prohibición del tabaquismo en un hospital psiquiátrico. Método: estudio ecológico, longitudinal y retrospectivo realizado en un hospital psiquiátrico. Fueron obtenidos datos secundarios, a partir de consulta a las fichas médicas, referentes a 2.142 internaciones. Fue aplicado el test de medianas para comparación de las variables antes y después de la prohibición. Resultados: con la implementación de la prohibición el porcentaje de ocupación de las camas fue reducido en las unidades masculinas de trastornos mentales (88,8% para 48,4%) y de dependencia química (94,4% para 42,8%). La media de días de internación fue reducida en la unidad masculina de dependencia química (13,5 para 12,6) en comparación con la unidad femenina (14,7 para 19,5). Los costos con psicofármacos y expectorantes, las agresiones verbales/físicas y las contenciones físicas/químicas fueron reducidas. Conclusión: la prohibición de fumar alteró los indicadores hospitalarios, redujo costos y mejoró el comportamiento de los pacientes, contrariando el mito de que esta resulta en hostilidad. Se espera que este estudio contribuya para que los enfermeros revisen sus creencias relacionadas con la prohibición del tabaquismo, considerando los resultados positivos para las relaciones interpersonales y para la administración de los servicios de salud mental, que fueron obtenidos.

Hospital indicators and inpatient behavior in a psychiatric hospital that implemented the smoking ban

Abstract Objective: to compare hospitalization and discharge indicators, medication costs and patient behavior before and after the implementation of the smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital. Method: ecological, longitudinal and retrospective study carried out in a psychiatric hospital. Secondary data referring to 2142 hospitalizations were collected from medical records. The median test was used to compare the variables before and after the ban. Results: after the implementation of the ban, there was a reduction in bed occupancy rate in male units for mental disorders (from 88.8% to 48.4%) and substance dependence (from 94.4% to 42.8%). There was a reduction in the mean length of hospital stay in the male chemical dependency unit (from 13.5 to 12.6) compared to the female unit (from 14.7 to 19.5). There was a reduction in costs of psychotropic drugs and expectorants, episodes of verbal/physical aggressions and physical/chemical restraints. Conclusion: the smoking ban changed hospital indicators, reduced costs and improved patient behavior, contradicting the myth that it results in hostility. It is hoped that this study will help nurses to review their beliefs related to smoking cessation, as there were positive results for interpersonal relationships and for the management of mental health services.

An Exploration of Smoking Patterns Among People with Serious Mental Illness Attending an Outpatient Clinic in Qatar

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that tobacco use is exceptionally high in people affected with serious mental illness (SMI). Many countries worldwide have observed a decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking; however, the smoking rates among people with SMI have declined much less than in those without mental illness. To date, no nationally representative data have examined the smoking patterns or the sociocultural factors that influence smoking among SMI people in Qatar.

METHODS

A retrospective medical chart review was conducted to collect patient demographics, psychiatric and medical comorbidities, medications, the most recently documented smoking status and if on tobacco cessation treatment. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the data was performed.

RESULTS

Of 346 patients included in the cohort, 196 (56.6%) had their smoking status documented, of which 72 (36.7%) were "currently smoking." Significantly more males than females were "current smokers" (62.9% versus 15.0%, respectively, p < 0.001). Significantly more patients with psychotic disorders than those with any other SMI were "current smokers", and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006). Positive and significant associations with current smoking were found for the male gender, psychotic disorders, and high levels (≥6.2 mmol/L) of total cholesterol. Only 12 (16.7%) of current smokers were receiving smoking cessation treatment.

CONCLUSION

More than half of a sample of people with SMI attending outpatient psychiatric services in Qatar had documented smoking status. Still, only a few current smokers were on smoking cessation treatment. Efforts are needed to implement smoking cessation strategies in this population.

Hospital indicators and inpatient behavior in a psychiatric hospital that implemented the smoking ban

OBJECTIVE

to compare hospitalization and discharge indicators, medication costs and patient behavior before and after the implementation of the smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital.

METHOD

ecological, longitudinal and retrospective study carried out in a psychiatric hospital. Secondary data referring to 2142 hospitalizations were collected from medical records. The median test was used to compare the variables before and after the ban.

RESULTS

after the implementation of the ban, there was a reduction in bed occupancy rate in male units for mental disorders (from 88.8% to 48.4%) and substance dependence (from 94.4% to 42.8%). There was a reduction in the mean length of hospital stay in the male chemical dependency unit (from 13.5 to 12.6) compared to the female unit (from 14.7 to 19.5). There was a reduction in costs of psychotropic drugs and expectorants, episodes of verbal/physical aggressions and physical/chemical restraints.

CONCLUSION

the smoking ban changed hospital indicators, reduced costs and improved patient behavior, contradicting the myth that it results in hostility. It is hoped that this study will help nurses to review their beliefs related to smoking cessation, as there were positive results for interpersonal relationships and for the management of mental health services.