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Accessible summary: What is known on this subject?: The physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI) is an issue of growing concern in New Zealand and internationally.Metabolic syndrome is prevalent among people with severe mental illness and increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.No previous international research has investigated rates of metabolic monitoring in specialist mental health services and in primary care. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: Rates of metabolic monitoring are low in this specialist mental health service and in primary care.Primary care nurses are positive in their views of their role in providing care for people with mental illness, and would value further education in this area. What are the implications for practice?: Services need to consider ways in which nurses can be supported to improve rates of metabolic monitoring.Guidelines may have a role to play in improved monitoring but need service‐level support in order to be effective. Introduction: People with serious mental illness experience significant disparities in their physical health compared with the general population. One indicator of health impairment is metabolic syndrome, which increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. No international studies have reported both primary care and mental health nurses' rates of metabolic monitoring among people with serious mental illness, and no New Zealand studies have investigated rates of metabolic monitoring. Aim: To evaluate metabolic monitoring practices within one of New Zealand's 20 district health board regions. Method: An audit of clinical records in primary care (n = 46) and secondary care (n = 47) settings and a survey of practice nurses were conducted. A survey was sent to 127 practice nurses with a response rate of 19% (n = 24). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Rates of metabolic monitoring were low in both services. Survey participants expressed positive views towards physical health monitoring and confidence in relating to mental health consumers. Rates of treatment of metabolic abnormalities were low, and communication between primary and secondary services was limited. Conclusion: Despite existence of guidelines and protocols, metabolic monitoring rates in both primary and secondary health services are low. Incorporating metabolic monitoring systems into service delivery, supported by appropriate tools and resourcing, is essential to achieve better clinical outcomes for people experiencing mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: In the United States, 15.5% of nursing home residents without qualifying diagnoses of schizophrenia, Huntington's' Disease, and/or Tourette Syndrome receive antipsychotic medications.Antipsychotic medications are used off‐label (i.e., used in a manner the United States Food and Drug Administration's packaging insert does not specify) to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms, often before attempting nonpharmacologic interventions, despite evidence that this drug class is associated with significant adverse events including death.Less than optimal staffing resources and lack of access to geropsychiatric specialists are barriers to reducing antipsychotic use. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Antipsychotic use occurred in 11.6% of nursing home residents without qualifying or potentially qualifying diagnoses (bipolar disorder and psychotic disorder); antipsychotic use was more prevalent in residents with a dementia diagnosis than those without.One additional registered nurse hour per resident day could reduce the odds of antipsychotic use by 52% and 56% for residents with and without a dementia diagnosis respectively. What are the implications for practice?: Given the influence of total staffing and professional staff mix on risk of antipsychotic use, nursing home administrators may want to consider aspects of facility operation that impact antipsychotic use.More stringent Unites States' survey and certification standards for dementia care implemented in 2017 demand proactive person‐centered care that promotes maximal well‐being and functioning without risk of harm from inappropriate psychoactive medications.Mental health nurses have requisite training to provide expert person‐centered care to nursing home residents with mental illness and geropsychiatric disorders. Introduction: Antipsychotic use in nursing homes varies widely across the United States; inadequate staffing, skill mix, and geropsychiatric training impede sustained improvement. Aim: This study identified risk factors of antipsychotic use in long‐stay residents lacking qualifying or potentially qualifying diagnoses. Method: This secondary analysis used 2015 Minimum Data Set and cost report data from 458 Missouri nursing homes. The full sample (N = 29,679) was split into two subsamples: residents with (N = 15,114) and without (N = 14,565) a dementia diagnosis. Separate logistic regression models were run. Results: Almost 15% of the dementia subsample and 8.4% of the nondementia subsample received an antipsychotic medication in the past week. Post‐traumatic stress disorder, psychosis indicators, behavioral symptoms, anxiety medication with and without anxiety diagnosis, depression medication with and without depression diagnosis, and nurse staffing were among the strongest predictors of antipsychotic use in both subsamples. Simulation analyses showed decreased odds of receiving an antipsychotic in both subsamples when registered nurse hours matched the national average. Discussion: Matching nurse staffing mix to the national average may improve antipsychotic use in nursing homes. Implications: Knowledge of antipsychotic use risk factors use can inform care planning and staff education to minimize use of these medications in all but severe cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? The only previous quantitative study that examined nurses' use of assessment tools to identify antipsychotic medication side effects found that about 25% of mental health nurses were using assessment tools., No previous studies have examined factors that influence the manner in which mental health nurses assess antipsychotic medication side effects., What this paper adds to existing knowledge? One-third of the respondents were not aware of any antipsychotic medication side-effect assessment tool, and only one-quarter were currently using an assessment tool., 'Service responsibility' was significantly associated with ongoing use of antipsychotic medication assessment tools, indicating that respondents with more positive attitudes to their service were more likely to continue using antipsychotic medication assessment tools., What are the implications for practice? The low level of awareness and use of antipsychotic medication side-effect assessment tools indicates that nursing educational institutions should incorporate more detail about these tools in course content, and emphasize in particular the benefits that result from the use of these tools in clinical practice., Service processes contributed significantly to the use of antipsychotic medication assessment tools, which indicates that managers need to foster workplace cultures that promote routine use of these tools., Abstract Introduction Limited evidence suggests that only a minority of mental health nurses regularly use standardized assessment tools to assess antipsychotic medication side effects, but the factors that contribute to the non-routine use of these tools remain unknown. Aim To examine Australian mental health nurses' awareness of, and attitudes towards, side-effect assessment tools, and also identify factors the influence the use of these tools. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken through distributing an online questionnaire via email to members of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. Completed questionnaires were received from 171 respondents. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between the 'service responsibility' and 'personal confidence' scale scores, and awareness, previous use and ongoing use of antipsychotic medication assessment tools. Results Only one-quarter of the respondents (26.5%) were currently using an assessment tool. 'Service responsibility' was significantly associated with ongoing use of antipsychotic medication assessment tools ( Β = 3.26; 95% CI 0.83-5.69). 'Personal confidence' did not influence the ongoing use of assessment tools ( Β = −0.05; 95% CI −1.06-1.50). Implications for clinical practice Stakeholders can incorporate 'service responsibility' processes to foster increased use of assessment tools, which may enhance the identification antipsychotic medication side effects and improve the quality of care for service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary • The attitudes of mental health professionals towards medication play a crucial and influential role in service users' uptake of treatments. Evidence suggests that when service users receive their medication via depot injection, compliance improves and relapse rates are reduced. It is vital that mental health service users are involved in decision making about the mode by which their antipsychotic medication is delivered. Despite this, few studies have investigated the attitudes and beliefs that healthcare professionals hold about depot medication. No reviews have looked at health professionals' attitudes towards depot medication alone. • Depots are seen as old fashioned, stigmatizing, causing side effects and being costly, and they are often not prescribed because of a presumed adherence to oral medication. • In the current study it has been found that research in this field is sparse, and studies have mixed quality. An issue that should be investigated when looking at prescribing of depot medication is that of non-medical prescribers, especially nurses. Nurses have a different relationship to the service users when compared with consultant psychiatrists, and this can have an impact on service users' choice of medication. Healthcare professionals are key providers of information about antipsychotic medication and may have a significant influence on the decisions that service users make about how their medication is delivered. This systematic review aimed to explore health professionals' attitudes and beliefs towards antipsychotic depot medication. A systematic search of AMED, BNI, CINAHL, EMBASE, HEALTH BUSINESS ELITE, HMIC, MEDLINE and PsycINFO was carried out, as well as hand searches of journals and citation searches. Studies were selected if the terms ‘attitudes/beliefs’ and ‘depot/injection’ were included in the title or abstract, if health professionals were participants in the study and if original data were included. The search strategy produced 131 papers. Eight relevant studies were then selected for the review. They included six cross-sectional surveys and two qualitative studies. It was shown that the research carried out is still very sparse. Depots are seen as old fashioned, stigmatizing, causing side effects and being costly, and they are often not prescribed because of a presumed adherence to oral medication. More research needs to be carried out to further explore these issues, to look at the role of non-medical prescribers and explore the relationship between health professionals' attitudes and those of service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary No research has been conducted into the experience of peer support in improving adherence with oral antipsychotic medication for consumers with schizophrenia., Altruism influences peers to participate in peer support., Engagement in peer support can be challenging and rewarding for peers, and helps improve their own confidence and well-being., Abstract Many consumers with schizophrenia are reluctant to take their prescribed antipsychotic medications; however, non-adherence can lead to relapse. The aim of this study was to evaluate peers' perspectives of their participation in a problem-solving peer support programme to enhance adherence in consumers who are reluctant to take antipsychotic medication. Peers contacted consumers by a weekly telephone call for 8 weeks, and used a problem-solving approach to inform their discussion about medication adherence. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were used to evaluate peers' perspectives of their involvement in the programme. Three main themes were abstracted from the data: motivation to participate in the study, experience of peer support programme, and rewards and challenges of the peer experience. Helping others was an important motivator for peers in agreeing to participate in the study. Telephone delivery was a convenient way to deliver the peer support programme. However, at times, it was difficult to contact consumers by telephone and this caused some frustration. Despite these difficulties, peers recognized that being involved in the programme increased their confidence and made them feel worthwhile. The findings have implications for the use of peer support as an adjunct intervention to promote medication adherence in consumers with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary This is a literature review of 16 studies about care requirements for persons with psychotic disorders and risk of or existing type 2 diabetes. The studies together indicate that mental health nurses play an important role in motivating diabetes care as they are often known to and trusted by the persons., A holistic approach to the person's health, with close follow-ups in psychiatric care and cooperation with diabetes care, may have benefits for the diabetes care., Screening for and treating psychotic symptoms is an important task for mental health nurses, as these symptoms drain energy from the person and prevent diabetes self-care. Antipsychotic medication increases the need for follow-ups of glycaemic control., Lifestyle and diabetes education needs to be practical, adapted to the individual and focused on maintaining a healthy diet, taking exercise, changing smoking habits and preventing diabetes complications., Abstract This literature review aimed to explore previous knowledge about specific care requirements for persons with psychotic disorders and risk of or existing type 2 diabetes. Sixteen qualitative and quantitative studies in the area were identified and summarized. The studies together indicate that mental health nurses play an important role in motivating people to perform diabetes care as they are often known to and trusted by the patients. A holistic approach to the person's health, with close follow-ups by psychiatric care and cooperation with diabetes care, may have benefits for the person with diabetes. Screening for and treating psychotic symptoms is an important task for the mental health nurse, as these symptoms drain energy from the person and prevent diabetes self-care. Lifestyle and diabetes education needs to be practical, adapted to the individual and focused on maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, changing smoking habits and preventing diabetes complications. Treatment with antipsychotic drugs increases the need for follow-ups of glycaemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]