Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing | 2021
Activation in Persons with Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION\nPatient activation is understanding one s role in the healthcare process and having confidence, knowledge, and skills to self-manage one s health and healthcare. Researchers have begun to investigate patient activation in persons with mental health disorders, but no systematic reviews have been conducted to summarize and synthesize this research. For psychiatric mental health nurses and other clinicians to develop strategies to increase patient activation in this population, more information is needed about factors associated with activation and interventions that increase activation. REVIEW QUESTIONS: (1) What factors are associated with levels of activation in persons diagnosed with mental health disorders? (2) What interventions have shown to be effective at increasing levels of activation in persons diagnosed with mental health disorders?\n\n\nMETHOD\nA 5-stage integrative review as described by Whittemore & Knafl.\n\n\nRESULTS\nTwenty-nine articles were included in the review. Ten provided correlations between activation and other factors, and 20 examined the effects of interventions on activation. Some studies revealed significant correlations between a variety of heath and treatment-related factors, and others revealed that some interventions, most notably educational programs, were shown to increase activation.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nThe findings of this comprehensive review can inform psychiatric mental health nurses and other clinicians in developing strategies to increase activation in the patients with whom they work. More research is needed to provide a deeper understanding of the role of activation in the recovery and treatment of persons with mental health disorders.\n\n\nIMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE\nPsychiatric nurses and other clinicians should assess for patient activation and incorporate strategies to increase levels of activation in patients in their practice. Positive therapeutic relationships likely enhance activation in persons with mental health disorders.