Mental health nurses’ attitudes towards the physical health care of people with severe and enduring mental illness: The development of a measurement tool

Abstract

Citation: Robson, D. & Haddad, M. (2012). Mental health nurses' attitudes towards the physical health care of people with severe and enduring mental illness: The development of a measurement tool. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 49(1), pp. 72-83. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.07.011 This is the unspecified version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Results: A 28-item measure comprised of four factors accounted for 42% of the variance. The factor solution appeared to provide meaningful dimensions, and the internal consistency of the measure and of its derived subscales was adequate (Cronbach's alpha between 0.76 and 0.61). The factors were labelled nurses' attitudes to involvement in physical health care; nurses' confidence in delivering physical health care; perceived barriers to physical health care delivery and nurses' attitudes to smoking. Validity was established by associations between the total scale and subscales with predetermined respondent variables. Permanent Conclusion:The Physical Health Attitude Scale for mental health nurses (PHASe) is a first attempt to develop a valid and reliable measure of this important area. The initial development methods and its testing in a large sample provide indications of content and construct validity. Further testing in different samples and consequent refinement are necessary, however the PHASe appears to be a useful tool for measuring attitudes among this professional group and evaluating the effects of professional development.

Care coordinator views and experiences of physical health monitoring in clients with severe mental illness: A qualitative study

“…This corresponds with previous reports that the burden of additional responsibilities related to physical health monitoring can act as a barrier to such tasks being successfully implemented by mental healthcare staff (Dunbar et al, 2010;Happell et al, 2011;Robson & Haddad, 2012;Wynaden et al, 2016). Thus, our findings indicate that to counter the view that physical health monitoring is a burdensome additional responsibility, it could be framed as a means to achieve improved working relationships with clients through providing comprehensive support.…”

Providing physical health care for people accessing mental health services: Clinicians’ perceptions of their role

“…The survey used here comprised 147 items derived from a combination of validated instruments employed in Australian (Happell et al 2013) and UK settings (Robson & Haddad 2012), with additional items developed by a panel of clinician and academic experts for the purpose of this study.…”

Facilitating knowledge of mental health nurses to undertake physical health interventions: a pre-test/post-test evaluation

“…). This would appear to be partly related to a lack of recognition of this role in undergraduate studies, a view supported by the latest review of mental health nursing in the UK (Department of Health ) and more recent evidence reviewing the training needs of registered mental health nurses in the UK and elsewhere (Nash , Howard & Gamble , Robson & Haddad , Happell et al . ).…”