title: Refocusing on physical health: Community psychiatric nurses' perceptions of using enhanced health checks for people with severe mental illness.
abstract: In the present qualitative, descriptive study, we explored Hong Kong community psychiatric nurses' (CPN) perceptions of using comprehensive physical health checks for service users diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). Research interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 11 CPN in order to explore their perceptions about the use of the Health Improvement Profile (HIP) over a 1-year period. Interview data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The analysis revealed that the majority of CPN appreciated the comprehensive focus on the physical health of their clients and reported positive changes in their clinical practice. Many of them observed an increase in the motivation of their clients to improve their physical health, and also noted observable benefits in service users' well-being. The use of the HIP also helped the CPN identify implementation barriers, and highlighted areas of the tool that required modifications to suit the local cultural and clinical context. To our knowledge, this is the first study conducted in an Asian mental health service that explores nurses' views about using comprehensive health checks for people with SMI. The findings suggest that such approaches are viewed as being acceptable, feasible, and potentially beneficial in the community mental health setting.
authors: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Bressington
authors: Castle Peak Hospital, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors: Jolene
authors: J
authors: Mui
authors: School of Nursing, Kingston University and St George's, University of London, London.
authors: Harvey
authors: H
authors: Wells
authors: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom.
authors: Wai Tong
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-5791
authors: WT
authors: Chien
authors: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Lam
authors: Department of Nursing, University of Hull, Yorkshire, UK.
authors: Jacquie
authors: J
authors: White
authors: Department of Nursing Research and Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of South Australia, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Gray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: health behaviour change; health screening; physical health; severe mental illness