Scott Brunero

Prevalence and Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome Among Patients Attending an Outpatient Clozapine Clinic in Australia

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome in an outpatient clozapine clinic in Australia. METHODS Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of some of the most dangerous cardiovascular risk factors, and its high prevalence in people with mental illness has been demonstrated. Patients attending a clozapine clinic were screened for the following: age, gender, ethnicity, waist circumference, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein level, low-density lipoprotein level, blood sugar levels, total cholesterol level, triglycerides level, weight, body mass index, insulin resistance level, length of time on clozapine, clozapine dose, smoking status, family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and personal history of polycystic ovarian syndrome. All the variables that were found to be significantly associated with metabolic syndrome were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Seventy-three patients were screened for metabolic syndrome using the International Diabetes Federations (2007) definition. Forty-five (61.6%) patients met the criteria for the syndrome. Increased blood sugar level, high diastolic blood pressure, older age, increased waist circumference, raised triglycerides level, and higher body mass index emerged as significant predictors of metabolic syndrome in the sample. CONCLUSIONS This study adds further support for the systematic screening for metabolic syndrome in patients receiving clozapine. The need for intervention programs which screen for and address the modifiable risk factors of metabolic syndrome is discussed.

Profiling police presentations of mental health consumers to an emergency department

Public mental health systems have been called on to better meet the needs of consumers presenting to health services with the police, yet few studies have examined police presentations among mental health consumers in large public mental health systems. This study was designed to determine the frequency profile and characteristics of consumers of mental health services brought in by police to an emergency department (ED) in Sydney, Australia. Using data from the emergency department information system and obtaining the psychiatric assessment from the medical record, we have examined trends and characteristics in mental health presentations brought in by the police to a general ED between 2003 and 2005. The sample consisted of 542 consumers with a mental health problem brought in by the police to the ED of a 350-bed community hospital. The characteristics of this group were compared with those of all mental health related ED presentations for the same period using logistic regression. Results indicated that police presentations are likely to be young males who are unemployed, have past and present alcohol and other drugs use, present after hours, and are admitted to hospital as a result of their presentation. These consumers are likely to have a presenting problem of a psychotic disorder, less likely to have a presenting problem of depression and/or anxiety, and given a triage code of three or higher. The study results highlight the importance of the availability of 24-hour access to mental health care to ensure a quick care delivery response. Police presentations to EDs with mental health issues are an indicator of significant impact on health services, especially with the current overcrowding of EDs and the associated long waiting times. Systems need to be developed that facilitate collaboration between EDs, hospital security, police services, mental health, and ambulance services.

Mental health education programmes for generalist health professionals: An integrative review

Mainstreaming of mental health services has led to an increase in the presentation and care of mental health patients in generalist health settings. The lack of adequate mental health educational preparation of general health professionals (GHP) has been identified as a major barrier to meeting the health-care needs of mental health patients. This study aimed to review and synthesize research evidence on mental health education programmes (MHEP) that have been designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of GHP. An integrative literature review was conducted following a search of key electronic databases and hand searching of references of relevant papers, and 25 papers met the study inclusion criteria. Knowledge, skill, and attitudinal improvements in GHP post MHEP were shown in most studies. MHEP that included supervised clinical experience, role play, and case scenarios were reported as being more effective. Issues such as patient participation in education, interprofessional education models, and the willingness, interest and, motivation for GHP to be involved in MHEP warrant further research.

Using and understanding consumer satisfaction to effect an improvement in mental health service delivery

Consumer satisfaction is today, widely accepted as a measure of the level and quality of service received by consumers. The aim of this survey-based study is to explore consumer satisfaction with quality of care, staff, environment and discharge in a south eastern Sydney adult acute inpatient mental health unit. A cross-sectional analysis is pursued in order to identify aspects of the patient stay, which form an associative relationship with an overall rating of consumer satisfaction on a 10-point scale. During the survey period, there were 182 discharges. Seventy questionnaires (38.5%) were returned from this group. The survey results highlight a number of areas of identified need, enabling the service to prioritize organizational systems around meeting these needs. Multiple regression analysis identified three items in the survey, which were independently significant associates of overall consumer satisfaction. They included being happy with the service provided by the consumer support worker, having support for services on discharge and feeling safe and secure on the ward. The model containing these three items accounted for 50% of the variation in overall satisfaction. Two primary interventions have been developed because survey administration which, it is hoped, will address issues raised in the survey. The interventions were the development of an admission and discharge pathway and a ward-based psychosocial intervention programme, which includes the involvement of consumer support workers.

An exploratory evaluation of an action learning set within a mental health service

Collaborative processes which enable problem solving and decision making are reported as being essential to professional practice within contemporary health care. Action learning is a process reported on as a systematic approach to effective problem solving, whilst action learning sets are increasingly being reported within the literature as conduits for learning. The essential elements involved in these processes are reported to be that of reflective inquiry and critical thinking to stimulate effective learning. This paper discusses the development of an action learning set within an acute mental health setting and evaluates the experience of participants within the set. Six participants completed a questionnaire regarding their experience of the action learning sets over a 6 month period. In general, participants found the sets; relevant to their working practice; important experiences of facilitation; important for engaging in reflective inquiry and critical thinking and effective for increasing problem solving abilities. The participants found creating a balance between high challenge and high support the most difficult part of the action learning process.

The process, logistics and challenges of implementing clinical supervision in a generalist tertiary referral hospital

Clinical supervision (CS) has been identified within nursing as a process for improving clinical practice and reducing the emotional burden of nursing practice. Little is known about its implementation across large tertiary referral hospitals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the implementation of clinical supervision across several different nursing specialities at a teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia. Using a model of nursing implementation science, a process was developed at the study site that facilitated the development, implementation and evaluation of the project. After a 6-month study period, the CS groups were postevaluated using a survey tool developed for the project. A total of nine CS groups were in operation over the 6-month study period. A predominant focus within the sessions was one of the collegial support and developing standards of practice. The process was able to achieve wide hospital-based support for the role of CS from the senior nurse executives to junior nurses. Whilst there was overall positive support for the CS groups, logistical and resource challenges remain, in the effective roll out of CS to large numbers of nurses.

The 'difficult' nurse-patient relationship: development and evaluation of an e-learning package.

Abstract Nurses in most clinical settings experience difficult ‘nurse patient relationships’ at various times. Attempts to describe and articulate how to manage such difficult relationships can be found, but often lay blame at the patient level and ultimately leave the nurse less confident to improve patient care. This study uses an action research approach in working with nurses in a generalist setting in developing an educational strategy that helped to improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in working within the ‘difficult nurse patient relationship’ paradigm. Through the experiential style learning methodology of scenario based learning and applying this via e-learning, an effective educational approach has been developed. Using a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the e-learning package, significant increases in knowledge, skill, confidence and reduced nurse stress as measured on the ‘difficult patient stress scale’ were shown. This approach allows nurses to reflect on their own behaviour and improve their ability to enhance patient care in difficult to manage nursing care situations.

Art psychotherapy in a consumer diagnosed with borderline personality disorder: A case study

This case study reviews 11 sessions of art psychotherapy with a consumer diagnosed with having borderline personality disorder. A consumer who reported difficulty in communicating her lived trauma verbally and engaged in self-harming behaviour was offered individual art therapy sessions following a consultation between an art therapy student and clinical nurse consultant in an attempt to understand her experiences and to collaboratively engage her. Notes were taken after each session by the art therapy student, reflecting conversations with this consumer while they were engaged in art making, which were subsequently explored within formal clinical supervision sessions with a mental health nurse consultant. An art portfolio is reproduced. It illustrates the expressive power of image creation. The key features of the images were that of lived trauma, the externalization of thoughts and feelings, and intense emotional expression. The results of this chronological art portfolio case study indicated therapeutic benefits from the intervention for this consumer. Further investigations of this type of intervention are warranted within the mental health setting.

The development and evaluation of a succession planning programme in nursing, in Australia

AIM This study reports on a locally organized model of succession planning in a 550-bed general hospital. BACKGROUND Within healthcare, succession planning has traditionally been considered for people at the executive director level and little research has been published with nurses working at the clinical level. METHOD A succession planning model was developed from the literature and through a process of consultation with senior staff. The model was then evaluated from a customer satisfaction, programme progress, effective placement and organizational results perspectives. Nurses who were successful in obtaining a new role were surveyed after 6 weeks in the position. Descriptive statistics, including numbers of placements and types of positions filled, were recorded. A checklist for conducting a programme evaluation of succession planning was also used. RESULTS Twenty-five nurses participated, with 31 positions succeeded to. Nurses reported positively that the programme was beneficial, increased their sense of career planning and gave them a greater understanding of their career pathway. CONCLUSIONS The succession planning programme provided an opportunity for the organization to identify new leaders. The study outcomes have identified potential improvements to the way succession planning is conducted at the hospital. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse Managers are in key positions to develop effective succession planning models. This study offers a process for managers to develop effective succession planning programmes within their organization.

Breakaway technique training as a means of increasing confidence in managing aggression in neuroscience nursing.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper was to evaluate breakaway technique training with neuroscience nursing staff as a measure of increased confidence and safety in managing aggression. METHODS A quasi experimental design was used in a sample of neuroscience nursing staff (n=31), participating in 2×1h breakaway technique workshops. The workshops consisted of supervised skills training in safe breakaway techniques. A pre- and postintervention-matched questionnaire measuring confidence and safety around managing aggressive patients, and exposure to and confidence in dealing with breakaways, was self administered. RESULTS Statistically significant increases in confidence and safety in working with aggressive patients, and confidence levels for safe breakaways were reported. Qualitative comments demonstrated a desire for ongoing skills workshops. CONCLUSIONS This study provides early evidence of the importance of incorporating breakaway training into existing training programs which aim to minimise and manage aggression and violence in generalist settings.