TY - JOUR

T1 - Barriers and Possible Solutions to Providing Physical Health Care in Mental Health Care

T2 - A Qualitative Study of Danish Key Informants’ Perspectives

AU - Lerbæk, Birgitte

AU - Mccloughen, Andrea

AU - Lauritsen, Marlene Briciet

AU - Aagaard, Jørgen

AU - Nordgaard, Julie

AU - Jørgensen, Rikke

PY - 2021/5/4

Y1 - 2021/5/4

N2 - Provision of physical health care to people diagnosed with severe mental illness is widely reported as inadequate. This interview study explored perspectives of a group of key informants on current practices of providing physical health care within two mental health care settings in Denmark. Thematic analysis of their accounts provided insights into 1) barriers to the provision of physical health care in mental health settings, and 2) possible solutions to overcome existing barriers. Negative attitudes and limited specialist health care knowledge among mental health care professionals constituted serious barriers. To effectively address these barriers, mental health services need to be reoriented towards the prioritisation of physical health alongside mental health. This will require equipping mental health professionals with relevant knowledge and skills and organisational resources, to effectively work with people experiencing or at risk of physical comorbidities.

AB - Provision of physical health care to people diagnosed with severe mental illness is widely reported as inadequate. This interview study explored perspectives of a group of key informants on current practices of providing physical health care within two mental health care settings in Denmark. Thematic analysis of their accounts provided insights into 1) barriers to the provision of physical health care in mental health settings, and 2) possible solutions to overcome existing barriers. Negative attitudes and limited specialist health care knowledge among mental health care professionals constituted serious barriers. To effectively address these barriers, mental health services need to be reoriented towards the prioritisation of physical health alongside mental health. This will require equipping mental health professionals with relevant knowledge and skills and organisational resources, to effectively work with people experiencing or at risk of physical comorbidities.

U2 - 10.1080/01612840.2020.1823537

DO - 10.1080/01612840.2020.1823537

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32990129

VL - 42

SP - 463

EP - 472

JO - Issues in Mental Health Nursing

JF - Issues in Mental Health Nursing

SN - 0161-2840

IS - 5

ER -