scholarly journals Improving physical health form completion on a general inpatient adult ward

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S227-S228
Author(s):  
Brandon Wong ◽  
Anjna Vekaria
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Electronic Record ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
Excel Spreadsheet ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Cholesterol Levels ◽  
Adult Psychiatry

AimsThe government's Five Year Forward View Plan for Mental Health has set a target for 280,000 people with severe mental health problems to be offered screening and appropriate intervention based on physical health risk stratification, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. As such, physical health review for patients on a general inpatient adult psychiatry ward includes routine blood tests for cholesterol levels and HbA1c. They are recorded together in a Physical Health (PH) Form in the patient's electronic record and used to stratify cardiovascular risk factors and risk of diabetes. If a patient declines these blood tests it should be recorded on the PH form.This study aims to improve the completion of Physical Health forms to ≥95% by within a 4-month period on a general adult inpatient psychiatric ward.MethodPH form completion was measured using Tableau Software for a 4-week period as a baseline then fortnightly during the study. PH form completion required HbA1c and cholesterol levels to be inputted, or to be marked as declined where the patient had declined these tests. Potential interventions were discussed by clinicians and implemented using PDSA cycles with iterative changes tested and analysed. PH form completion was re-audited monthly for a 6-month period.ResultBaseline data showed 61.54% of patients had physical health forms completed (n = 26; 61.54% with HbA1c, 76.92% with cholesterol completed). Iterative changes and improvements included; (i) paper list to track PH form completion, (ii) table on Microsoft Word, (iii) Excel spreadsheet, and (iv) a conditionally formatted Excel spreadsheet. The conditionally formatted Excel spreadsheet was colour-coded to show completed elements as green and incomplete elements as red.Paper lists increased PH completion to 84.85% (n = 33). Word table increased PH completion to 96.43% (n = 28). Excel spreadsheet had PH completion of 96.67% (n = 30). Colour coded excel spreadsheet increased PH completion to 100% (n = 28). This was used as standard practice with sustained 100% completion in November (n = 34) and December (n = 39). The improvement was sustained to January 2021, although there was a decrease to 97.7% (n = 30).ConclusionIt was hypothesised an intervention to track completion of PH forms would improve completion rate. The use of a colour-coded conditionally formatted Excel spreadsheet improved PH form completion to 100% within an 8-week period and a sustained increase of >95% 6 months after the study began. This study recommends the use of such an electronic record keeping system to assist with PH form completion.

scholarly journals Positivity in Mental and Physical Health

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Urvashi Sharma ◽  
Dr. Ravindra Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Physical Wellbeing ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Mental health refers to our overall psychological well-being. It includes the way we feel about our self, the quality of our relationships, and our ability to manage our feelings and deal with difficulties. Good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. People who are emotionally or mentally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. Positive mental health is a state of well-being in which we realize our abilities, can cope with life’s normal stresses, and can work regularly and productively. Physical health means a good body health, which is healthy because of regular physical activity, good nutrition, and adequate rest. Physical health can be determined by considering someone’s height/weight ratio, their Body Mass Index. Another term for physical health is physical wellbeing. Physical wellbeing is defined as something a person can achieve by developing all health-related components of his/her lifestyle. It can be concluded that mental and physical health is fundamentally linked. There are multiple associations between mental health and chronic physical conditions that significantly impact people’s quality of life. Just as physical fitness helps our bodies to stay strong, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it.

scholarly journals Implementation of physical examination pro forma – a complete audit cycle

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S104-S104
Author(s):  
Deshwinder Singh Sidhu ◽  
Guy Molyneux
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
City Hospital ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Audit Cycle ◽  
Pro Forma

AimsAim of this audit is to achieve and maintain 100% compliance in physical examination on admission.BackgroundConducting physical examination on admission is a mandatory requirement and is monitored by the Mental Health Commission during yearly inspections. A report published by Inspectorate of the Mental Health Commission recently in 2019 identifies a gap in physical health monitoring. We conducted a complete audit cycle in an inner city hospital psychiatric ward to monitor compliance with physical examination on admission.MethodWe based the audit on Judgment Support Framework (JSF) version 5 standards. A retrospective review of all of the patient's medical records was carried out. 13 medical records were reviewed in the first cycle. The results of the first cycle were presented to the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) members, including the Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD). Physical health policy was reviewed, in consultation with the committee and Clinical Director, a Physical Examination pro-forma (colour coded) was developed and implemented. It was based on the National Guidelines and the JSF ver.5. All members of the MDT and NCHDs were briefed on the pro forma introduced. A repeat audit cycle was conducted of all patients admitted after first audit cycle. Data were collected using a simple audit tool indicating if physical examination was conducted or refused.ResultA total of 22 medical records were audited. 13 medical records in the first cycle indicted only 3 patients had physical examination on admission. However, prior to admission a total of six patients had physical exam in the Emergency Department (ED). Upon implementation of the pro forma, 9 medical records of all patients admitted post-first cycle were audited. A total of 7 patients had physical examination on admission to the ward. Two patients refused physical examination and this was clearly documented. One patient had physical examination completed in ED. All newly admitted patients had physical examination completed or the reason why it wasn't completed documented clearly.ConclusionPhysical examination pro forma was successfully implemented, raising current compliance to a 100%, with a significant improvement from 23% compliance in the first cycle. Existing pro forma is helpful as a reminder to NCHDs. Colour coding of pro forma improves accessibility and distinguishability during the process of admission and auditing. Physical examination pro forma will be audited every 6 monthly.

scholarly journals Neurodevelopment disorders in adolescence and transition into adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. 914-914
Author(s):  
A. Moscoso
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Adult Psychiatry ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Therapeutic Tools ◽  
Time Specific

The transitional period from adolescence into adulthood is an important developmental stage, known to be a risk factor for mental health problems. Neuropsychiatric disorders are the main cause of disability for young people aged 10–24 years and they seem to precede mental health disorders in adults. Since persistence of an adolescent episode is a strong predictor of outcome, giving proper care during critical stages might prevent later life psychiatric morbidity arising from adolescent-onset disorders. Mental health services for adolescents have evolved from non-specific secondary treatment to more extensive treatment goals, where prevention and early diagnosis take place; at the same time, specific therapeutic tools for adolescents are increasing and put into practice. In Europe, both child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP) and adult psychiatrists treat adolescents, and for a few countries, the specialty of adolescent psychiatry exists. In this symposium, we propose to address new strategies to treat adolescents with defying pathologies that often pose problems; we will do it through the scope of CAP and adult psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Bridging the service divide

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip P. Asherson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Stimulant Medication ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Good Deal ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Need For Treatment ◽  
Adult Psychiatry

Most child and adolescent mental health services recognise the existence of, and need for treatment in, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many specialist multidisciplinary ADHD clinics have been developed in recent years, and many paediatricians have included the treatment of ADHD as an important part of their clinical activity. A good deal of the justification for this increase in therapeutic activity has been the demonstration that ADHD is indeed a predictor of adult mental health problems. General adult psychiatry, however, has not followed suit in identifying and treating substantial numbers of affected people. It is likely none the less that an increasing load in adult psychiatry will develop. A rising number of young people will enter adult life still receiving stimulant medication or other treatment for ADHD, and adult psychiatrists are likely to be consulted. Furthermore, an increasing number of adults are likely to recognise themselves as having been disabled by ADHD and therefore to seek assistance. In many cases, individuals with adult ADHD who require specific treatment for the condition will have been treated unsuccessfully for disorders with overlapping symptom profiles such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

How writing and using Insight Poetry helped me to overcome my illness

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anonymous
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

In 1986 I suffered a severe mental breakdown. I have had serious mental health problems for 15 years. Over the past 15 months, my mental and physical health have improved considerably. During this time, I have been writing and using Insight Poetry to help overcome my illness.

Improving physical health of patients with mental health problems

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1234-1234
Author(s):  
F. Cheema ◽  
J. Graham ◽  
D. Moffat ◽  
C. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Community Mental Health Service ◽  
Individual Parameter ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

It is well recognised that individuals with severe mental health difficulties have increased risks of significant physical health problems and that some of the treatments for mental health problems can cause physical health difficulties as side effects. It is also known that people with mental health difficulties do not present themselves regularly for physical health monitoring as suggested by national and international guidelines. We show how a secondary care community mental health service cooperated with primary care general medical services to increase the take up of physical health monitoring by patients with severe and enduring mental health problems.Staff in the community mental health team which served a rural/small urban population identified patients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties or those patients on medications linked to physical problems and contacted the primary care physicians responsible for the patients’ general care with patient details and encouraged patient attendance for physical health monitoring. Physical monitoring included blood pressure, ECG, glucose, thyroid, lipids, height and weight. Post-intervention attendance figures show an increase of 30% in patients attending physical health reviews compared with pre-intervention figures. The intervention has been now rolled out to a larger catchment area of 25000 persons.[Physical health monitoring by individual parameter]

scholarly journals Writing letters to patients

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 542-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Letter Writing ◽  
Process Of Care ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Icd 10

Recent changes in the law and mental health policy have forced psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to review the traditional cloak of secrecy that surrounds record keeping and letter writing. This paper establishes what proportion of patients attending a psychiatric out-patient clinic are interested in receiving letters from their psychiatrist. Those who are interested tend to be better educated, whereas those who are not interested are much more likely to have an ICD–10 diagnosis of schizophrenia. Overall, there appear to be high levels of satisfaction with the nature of the letters received. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the difficulty of engaging people with the most severe and enduring forms of mental health problems as active participants in the process of care.

scholarly journals The profundity of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-105
Author(s):  
Avilasha Singh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Future ◽  
Physical Health Problems

Mental health has always been stigmatised and overlooked. Since, anxiety and stress are natural responses while facing a threat of new diseases. Hence, this pandemic has shown us the importance of mental health. During this time there have been many triggers that have caused repercussions in people’s mental health. Mental health crisis is on the rise. So, it is important to be able to tackle mental health problems as effectively as physical health problems, not only now but in the future as well, once and for all.

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