scholarly journals Willingness and feasibility of utilising short messaging services (SMS) as reminders of follow-up care to mental health care users in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 100294
Author(s):  
Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya ◽  
Lucelle Ramlucken
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lucelle Ramlucken

Background The mental well-being of an individual is affected by physical, social and psychological factors, which result in a psychiatric diagnosis. Difficulty in concentration and attention is experienced, and they become dependent on their families for financial and social support. Over the years, there has been a rapid growth in the use of mobile technology which has been proven to increase treatment adherence. Short message services may improve service delivery through appointment reminders, and improve communication between health care workers and patients. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of utilising a short message service to remind outpatient mental health care users (MHCU) of their follow-up care in the uMgungundlovu District. Methodology The study employed a non-experimental quantitative survey. The study took place at four outpatient psychiatric clinics in the uMgungundlovu District in KZN. A non-probability convenient sampling method was used to select 182 participants at the psychiatric clinics. Results The majority of the respondents n=169 (92.9%) indicated that they would be interested in receiving the short message service. Results indicated that it would be feasible, acceptable and expedient to MHCUs to have access to the service.


2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 727-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Spittal ◽  
Fiona Shand ◽  
Helen Christensen ◽  
Lisa Brophy ◽  
Jane Pirkis

Objective: Presentation to hospital after self-harm is an opportunity to treat underlying mental health problems. We aimed to describe the pattern of mental health contacts following hospital admission focusing on those with and without recent contact with community mental health services (connected and unconnected patients). Methods: We undertook a data linkage study of all individuals admitted as a general or psychiatric inpatient to hospital after self-harm in New South Wales, Australia, between 2005 and 2011. We identified the proportion of admissions where the patient received subsequent in-person community mental health care within 30 days of discharge and the factors associated with receipt of that care. Results: A total of 42,353 individuals were admitted to hospital for self-harm. In 41% of admissions, the patient had contact with a community mental health service after discharge. Patients connected with community mental health services had 5.33 (95% confidence interval = [5.09, 5.59]) times higher odds of follow-up care than unconnected patients. Other factors, such as increasing age and treatment as a psychiatric inpatient, were associated with lower odds of follow-up community care. Conclusion: Our study suggests that full advantage is not being taken of the opportunity to provide comprehensive mental health care for people who self-harm once they have been discharged from the inpatient setting. This is particularly the case for those who have not previously received community mental health care. There appears to be scope for system-level improvement in the way in which those who are treated for self-harm are followed up in the community.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Knapstad ◽  
L V Lervik ◽  
S M M Saether ◽  
L E Aaroe ◽  
O R F Smith

Abstract Background Prompt Mental Health Care (PMHC) service is a Norwegian initiative, adapted from the English ‘Improved Access to Psychological Therapy’ (IAPT), aimed at improving access to primary care treatment for anxiety and depression. Thus far, both PMHC and IAPT have been evaluated by cohort studies only. Albeit yielding promising results, the extent to which these are attributable to the treatment thus remains unsettled. This study investigates the effectiveness of PMHC compared to treatment as usual (TAU) at six months follow-up. Methods Randomized controlled trial with parallel assignment in two PMHC sites from November 2015 to March 2018. Participants were 681 adults (aged ≥18 years) considered for admission to PMHC due to anxiety and/or mild to moderate depression. These were randomly assigned on a 70:30 ratio. Main outcomes were recovery rates and changes in symptoms of depression and anxiety between baseline and follow-up. Primary outcome data were available for 73%/67% in the PMHC/TAU group. Sensitivity analyses based on observed patterns of missingness were conducted. Results A reliable recovery rate of 58.5% was observed in the PMHC group and 31.9% in the TAU group, yielding a between-group effect size (ES) of 0.61 [95% CI 0.37-0.85, p<.001]. The differences in degree of improvement between PMHC and TAU yielded an ES of -0.88 [95% CI -1.23-0.43, p < 0.001] for symptoms of depression and -0.60 [95% CI -0.90-0.30, p < 0.001] for symptoms of anxiety in favour of PMHC. All sensitivity analyses pointed in the same direction with small variations in point estimates. Findings were slightly more robust for depressive than anxiety symptoms. Conclusions The PMHC treatment was substantially more effective than TAU in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. This adaptation of IAPT is considered a viable supplement to existing health services to increase access of effective treatment for adults who suffer from anxiety and mild to moderate depression. Key messages This study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of an IAPT-like treatment model in terms of a randomized controlled trial. Prompt Mental Health Care was substantially more effective than TAU in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety at 6-months follow-up.


2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (s437) ◽  
pp. 42-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ruggeri ◽  
G. Salvi ◽  
C. Bonetto ◽  
A. Lasalvia ◽  
L. Allevi ◽  
...  

Criminologie ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheilagh Hodgins ◽  
Mireille Cyr ◽  
Jean Paquet ◽  
Pierre Lamy

While severe mental disorders have consistently been shown to be more prevalent among inmates of penal institutions than among the general population, the provision of mental health within jails, prisons and penitentiaries has always been, and continues to be, problematic. The present investigation was designed to examine the impact on patients of one organizational model of mental health care for penitentiary inmates. Ninety-nine men who were transferred from a penitentiary to a maximum security hospital for varying periods of time were followed for three years after discharge. Relapse and criminal recidivism were documented from official files. Interviews were conducted at the end of the follow-up period in order to examine subject's level of social functionning and mental state. Specific conclusions are drawn about the way in which mental health care was provided and the benefit which accrued to the patients.


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