Predictors of healthy life habits prescription by mental health professionals treating individuals with psychotic disorders
Poster C6, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Ahmed Jerome Romain1, Alexia Trottier1, Amal Abdel-Baki1,2,3; 1University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), 2University of Montreal, 3University Hospital of Montreal (CHUM)
Purpose: To describe the health promotion practice of mental health professionals (MHP) working with individuals with serious mental illness. 100 MHP (65% females, 20% of medical doctors [MD]; mean age: 39.9±11.3 years old) of which 37% were working in first-episode psychosis (FEP) clinics were included. MHP have completed the ‘Exercise in mental illness questionnaire-Health professionals’ and its adaptation to tobacco and nutrition and the ‘Stages of change questionnaire’ to assess their own behaviour. Results: 60% of MHP promoted exercise, 49% nutrition and 41% tobacco cessation. MD and nurses were promoting healthy behaviour more than other MHP. Less than 50% of MHP were trained on health promotion (exercise: 21%; nutrition: 45%, tobacco: 24%) with MD being more trained in exercise (15%) and tobacco (45%). Training was associated to higher self-efficacy regarding their ability to promote exercise (p = 0.02) and nutrition (p = 0.001). MHP promoting healthy behaviors showed higher self-efficacy regarding promotion of exercise (p = 0.007), nutrition (p < 0.001) and tobacco (p < 0.001) and less barriers to promotion. No relationship was observed between personal habits and healthy life habits promotion. When compared to others, MHP working in FEP settings were more likely to feel overwhelmed by their workload (p = 0.01) and less likely to include healthy behaviors counselling in their intervention programs. Conclusion: Reinforcing MHP’s training on healthy life habits promotion, could improve their self-efficacy and health promotion practices.
Topic Area: Public Policy