Role of the mental health professionals treating individuals with psychotic disorders in the promotion of healthy life habits
Poster C83, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Amal Abdel-Baki1,2,3, Ahmed Jerome Romain1; 1University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada, 3University Hospital of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Purpose: To describe the healthy life habits promotion practices of mental health professionals (MHP) working with individuals suffering from serious mental illness and the early-psychosis individuals’ (EPI) perception of the MHP’s role in healthy behaviour promotion. Methods: 100 MHP of which 37% were working in early intervention services (EIS) completed the ‘Exercise in mental illness questionnaire-Health professionals’ (also adapted for tobacco cessation and nutrition). 66 EPI completed a survey on the importance given to healthy behaviours in their rehabilitation. Results: 60% of MHP promoted exercise, 49% nutrition and 41% tobacco cessation. Less than 50% of MHP were trained on health promotion. However 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. MHP working in early intervention services were more likely to feel overwhelmed by their workload (p=0.01) and less likely to include healthy behaviors counselling in their intervention programs. Of the 66 EPI, the majority considered as important or very important advices given on nutrition by their social worker (63%), nurses (59%) and psychiatrist (65%). The same patterns were observed for PA (social worker: 61%; nurses: 69%; psychiatrist: 68%) but slightly lower for tobacco. EPI also considered healthy behaviours development as being as important as the improvement of their mental health (62%), employment (59%), social support (59%) and lodging (57%). Conclusion: Reinforcing MHP’s training on healthy life habits promotion could improve their self-efficacy and health promotion practices since this is valued by EPI.
Topic Area: Translational Research