title: Does training practice nurses to carry out physical health checks for people with severe mental illness increase the level of screening for cardiovascular risk?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Compared to the general population, people with severe mental illness (SMI) have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Authors of clinical guidelines advise annual screening for CVD risk factors with appropriate lifestyle counselling. There are seven recommended elements of this health check: blood pressure, body mass index (or waist circumference), blood glucose, serum cholesterol, diet advice, exercise recommendations and smoking cessation guidance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether training practice nurses increases the proportion of patients with SMI who are screened for CVD risk factors and given lifestyle advice in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A before-and-after audit of 400 patients on the SMI registers in five primary care centres in Northampton, England.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the training, the proportion of patients with SMI who received all elements of the health check significantly increased (pre-training: n = 33, 8%, 95% CI = 6-11; post-training: n = 60, 15%, 95% CI = 12-19; RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.22-2.72, p = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training practice nurses about CVD prevention in people with SMI may be effective in increasing the proportion of patients in this group who receive a comprehensive health check.
authors.affiliation: 1Nurse Consultant, Park Avenue Medical Centre and Visiting Fellow, University of Northampton, Park Avenue Medical Centre, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hinks
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; physical health; practice nurse; primary care; severe mental illness; training