title: Educational intervention to increase detection of metabolic syndrome in patients at community mental health centers.
abstract: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated illness is approximately double in individuals with mental illness compared with the general public. An educational intervention on metabolic syndrome was provided to mental health counselors, who performed intake assessments of patients newly admitted to two outpatient mental health facilities. Researchers of the current study first measured mastery of metabolic syndrome content following the educational intervention; they then conducted a chart audit on new admissions to measure changes in clinician behavior. Prior to the intervention, neither facility screened for metabolic syndrome at intake or referred patients with a body mass index (BMI) >25 for medical evaluation. A paired t test showed no significant difference in the educational pre-posttest scores; however, following the intervention, 53 of 132 patients had a documented BMI >25, and 47 of 53 patients were referred to a primary care provider for evaluation. The current study's findings suggest that mental health counselors who screen for metabolic syndrome and associated illnesses will increase the rate of detection of these chronic conditions.
authors.forename: Tamatha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arms
authors.forename: Tawanda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bostic
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*