The Blue Card: a hand-held health record card for mental health consumers with comorbid physical health risk.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a hand-held record (the 'Blue Card') for seriously mentally ill consumers by investigating effects on consumer knowledge of physical health risk factors, consumer involvement in care and communication with healthcare professionals.


METHODS
Consumers were given and educated in the use of the Blue Card, which contained information regarding their physical health. Consumers completed a pre- and post-knowledge questionnaire and commented on the effectiveness of the Blue Card with respect to their knowledge of physical health risks.


RESULTS
Statistically significant improvements in consumer knowledge were shown at the 3-month follow-up, with high retention of the Blue Card being demonstrated. Consumers that used the card described their use of the card positively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are very encouraging. Further studies of this low-cost intervention are warranted to establish its effectiveness and utility.
Brunero
Scott
S
Department of Liaison Mental Health Nursing, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia. Scott.Brunero@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Lamont
Scott
S
Myrtle
Lucy
L
Fairbrother
Greg
G
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D003024:Clozapine