title: Communication with colleagues: frequency of collaboration regarding physical health of consumers with mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify how frequently nurses in mental health services communicate about physical health of consumers with other healthcare professionals, and whether such collaboration is associated with physical care actions with consumers.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online national Australian survey of nurses in mental health services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses discuss physical health frequently with general practitioners, psychiatrists, and case managers, and less frequently with occupational therapists, social workers, and nurse practitioners. Interprofessional attention was positively associated with direct physical health care such as clinical screening and health education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interprofessional communication may support nurses in direct physical healthcare actions with consumers. Increasing collaborations with nurse practitioners, social workers, and occupational therapists need to be explored as part of clinical teamwork development.
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, Institute for Health and Social Science Research, Centre for Mental Health Nursing Innovation, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Happell
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Platania-Phung
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nankivell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Severe mental illness; chronic disease management; collaborative care; physical health care; teamwork