Attitudes Of Mental Health Staff Research Articles

Perspectives on implementing exercise bikes for use by inpatient mental health staff in the workplace: A qualitative study investigating staff attitudes.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise equipment for mental health staff may improve staff wellbeing, mitigate against stress and improve staff attitudes towards physical activity. This said, there is a lack of researching investigating the attitudes of mental health staff towards the provision of fitness facilities in the workplace. The study investigated staff attitudes towards being offered exercise bikes in the workplace. Three focus groups and one individual interview were conducted with 12 healthcare professionals. Data were subject to a thematic analysis. Three themes were identified. (1) 'This sounds like a good idea', which reflected positive views in the provision of exercise in the workplace for staff use. (2) 'I'm not sure it would work because …', which reflected implementation concerns including not having access to shower facilities and time constraints. (3) 'Balancing choice', which reflected participant's desire to have access to varied gym equipment. The introduction of fitness facilities in the workplace for staff use was endorsed. However, implementation barriers were noted. This research provides justification for the exploration of the feasibility and benefits of providing exercise equipment for mental health staff in the workplace but presents implementation barriers that are worth considering before trialling provision of exercise equipment.

Clinician attitudes towards borderline personality disorder: A 15-year comparison.

Stigma towards people with borderline personality disorder has been a common theme reported within mental health services staff. A longitudinal, mixed method design investigated attitudes of mental health staff working at the same public health service in 2000 and 2015. Participants from both the 2000 and 2015 samples completed a short 10-item version of the Attitude to Personality Disorders Questionnaire and identical qualitative questions. The 2015 sample also completed the Attitude to Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire and the Attitude and Skills Questionnaire. Qualitatively, the 2000 sample endorsed much more negative descriptions (e.g. 'attention seeking' and 'manipulative'), and the 2015 sample focused more on treatment approaches and skills (e.g. 'management plan' and 'empathy'). Quantitatively, the 2015 sample endorsed more positive attitudes than the 2000 sample. This positive attitudinal shift is an encouraging step in successful treatment of borderline personality disorder and may reflect a changing landscape of the mental health system and greater awareness and use of effective treatments. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effectiveness of a sensory modulation workshop on health professional learning

Purpose Workshops are commonly used to up-skill staff and their usefulness can be determined by measuring whether or not learning needs have been met and, in particular, whether attitudes have changed. In the field of mental health, sensory modulation workshops have been introduced to educate staff about preventative measures that reduce the use of seclusion and restraint for service users with challenging behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of such a workshop. Design/methodology/approach A one-day workshop was developed based on a review of the literature and feedback from previous workshops, and with input from an industry-based reference group. An evaluation tool was designed to measure the learning outcomes, i.e., the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the 23 participants. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v20) was used to analyse the data. Multi-variate analysis of variance was used to determine the relationship between variables. Findings A significant increase in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of mental health staff was identified after the one-day workshop (F=106.346, df=1, p<0.000). When considering which participants showed most benefits, it was shown that the demographics had no effect, i.e., education level, practice discipline, years of work experience in mental health, and previous sensory modulation training. Practical implications Measuring learning outcomes provides essential information about whether or not the learning objectives have been met. This allows future workshops to be tailored to ensure that the learning opportunity is at the correct level for the learners. More traditional evaluations that elicit the views of the content covered and teaching methods should additionally be used to supplement this information. Originality/value Workshops are often evaluated on the basis of the participants’ subjective response to a quick questionnaire. Developing a tool to measure outcomes is a more effective way to determine what has been learned and to ensure that positive outcomes for individuals and their organisations can be reached.

Mental health training program for community mental health staff in Guangzhou, China: effects on knowledge of mental illness and stigma.

BackgroundIn order to reduce the huge treatment gap in mental health, WHO has called for integrating mental health into primary care. The purposes of this study are to provide a training course to improve the community mental health staff’s knowledge of mental health and reduce stigma related to mental illness, as well as to evaluate the impact of this training on knowledge and stigma.MethodsThe training intervention was a one day course for community mental health staff in Guangzhou, China. Evaluation questionnaires were given before and after the training session. Mental health knowledge was assessed using two vignettes. Stigma was evaluated by the Mental Illness: Clinicians’ Attitudes Scale (MICA) and the Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS).ResultsA total of 99 community mental health staff from eight regions in Guangzhou, China were recruited for the study. The training course did not lead to a significant improvement of participants’ levels of mental health knowledge. The mean score of MICA decreased from 47.92 ± 8.63 to 43.53 ± 9.61 after the training (t = 6.64, P < 0.001). As for the RIBS, the mean scores increased from (14.12 ± 3.90) to (15.38 ± 3.41) at post-test (t = -5.44, P < 0.001), indicating a significant improvement.ConclusionsThe results from this study show that the training course is an effective way to improve community mental health staff’s attitudes toward people with mental illness in the short term, as well as to lessen the social distance between staff and people with mental illness.

Assessing and responding to hazardous and risky alcohol and other drug use: The practice, knowledge and attitudes of staff working in mental health services

Introduction: Comorbidity of mental illness and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) raises workforce challenges in terms of appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes required for delivering best care.Aim: (1) To assess the knowledge, skills and attitudes of mental health staff in relation to AOD use and (2) to inform development of training to provide effective screening and interventions for people with both mental health and AOD problems (co-morbidity).Method: Quantitative survey of knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding AOD issues completed by multidisciplinary mental health staff (n = 104/218) working across acute and community settings.Results: A 47.7% response rate was achieved. Generally staff held positive attitudes and motivation towards working with people with comorbidity, but there was an absence of formal training, experience or knowledge. Most staff believed they could deal with AOD issues; however, confidence was higher with assessment over AOD-related interventions (brief interventions, motivational approaches and goal setting) and only 24% of staff correctly identified standard drinks. Most staff recognized that AOD assessment and intervention is part of their role and access to training would facilitate their ability to improve service to mental health consumers.Conclusion: Integrated care for people with comorbidity requires mental health service providers to address identified gaps in clinician's knowledge, skills and attitudes with training in relation to AOD. To ensure effective training uptake and implementation, workforce leaders need to target identified barriers with initiatives such as support, mentoring and appropriate tools in relation to AOD.

A service user‐initiated project investigating the attitudes of mental health staff towards clients and services in an acute mental health unit

Mental Health Service Users (MHSU) are becoming increasingly recognized as very valuable contributors to the research process. The current study originated from the idea of a group of MHSU within a service user and carer research group. They wanted to investigate the attitudes of mental health staff towards clients in an acute mental health setting, as well as their attitudes towards certain aspects of service. An amended version of the 'Attitudes Towards Acute Mental Health Scale' was sent to nursing and allied staff at an acute psychiatric unit within the Gloucestershire 2gether NHS Foundation Trust. Fifty-seven of the 200 anonymous questionnaires were returned. Generally positive opinions of MHSU were obtained, but there were divided opinions on questions regarding the aetiology of mental health problems (e.g. social vs. genetic determinants). Opinions on aspects of the admissions process, therapeutic aspects of care, the use of medication and the use of control and restraint techniques were also obtained. Demographic variables of staff age, status and years of experience in mental health were found to be associated with attitudes and opinions. This MHSU-initiated study has extended the literature on mental health staff attitudes towards clients and services in an acute mental health setting. This study is split into two parts, Part A is focused on the process of involving MHSU in this project, Part B is concerned with the empirical investigation.

Attitudes of mental health staff to protected therapeutic time in adult psychiatric wards

Therapeutic time is a relatively new, ward-based intervention whereby psychiatric nurses spend regular, uninterrupted periods of time with patients during which they do not attend to other matters. A questionnaire survey of nursing and medical staff was conducted to assess attitudes to the approach. The majority of staff viewed the approach as being important for promoting patient recovery, reducing risk, improving nurse-patient relationships and enhancing patient satisfaction with care received. Interference with medical activities, lack of staffing resources and variable patient uptake were highlighted as potential problems. More research is required to establish the benefits, drawbacks and nature of therapeutic time. Given the current support for the approach and previous research emphasizing the extent to which patients value protected time to speak to nurses, investment of resources in further exploration and implementation of this approach may lead to significant clinical returns.

Attitudes of mental health staff to routine outcome measurement

Background: Routine outcome measurement is mandated in public mental health services in Australia, but uptake and compliance are variable. This may be because of uncertainties and resistances among clinicians.Aims: To survey attitudes and practices to routine outcome measurement among staff in adult area mental health services and to elucidate their correlates.Method: As part of a larger study, a specifically designed questionnaire was distributed to all staff.Results: A high return rate was achieved. A wide range of opinion was found. Staff who had attended training reported the measures as easier to use than those who had not. Staff who had recently seen feedback rated outcome measures as more valuable but less easy to use than those who had not seen feedback. Compared to other disciplines, medical staff and psychologists tended to rate outcome measures as less useful.Conclusions: The results have implications for the implementation and sustainability of routine outcome measurement. They highlight the need for staff to receive targeted training and usable reports, and to have access to resources to extract meaning and value from outcome measures.

Zero Tolerance Approach to Aggression and its Impact upon Mental Health Staff Attitudes

A natural study design provided an opportunity to investigate the effect of zero tolerance to aggression policy on health staff attitudes. This study compared a training programme used to train health service staff in aggression minimization (group 1) with a highly similar training programme that differed in that it emphasized a zero tolerance approach to aggression minimization in the health workplace (group 2). Prior to training and at follow up 117 health staff (57 from group 1, and 60 from group 2) completed a series of evaluations examining rigid attitudes toward managing aggression, tolerance for aggression and confidence and skills in dealing with aggression. The groups were equivalent with respect to age, sex and occupation. Prior to training the two groups did not differ with regard to rigidity, tolerance, confidence and skills. Both training interventions were effective in increasing confidence and skills. However, group 1 significantly decreased rigid attitudes toward the management of aggression, whereas group 2 significantly evidenced increased rigid attitudes and decreased tolerance toward aggression. Zero tolerance for aggression had a negative impact on health staff attitudes in relation to managing aggression in the health workplace.

Experience, knowledge and attitudes of mental health staff regarding clients with a borderline personality disorder.

A survey of mental health staff experience, knowledge and attitudes regarding the management of clients with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) aimed to obtain baseline data to provide direction for developing planned education and determining staff willingness to participate in such training. A 23-item questionnaire was developed and posted to mental health staff in a public Area Mental Health Service in New South Wales (n = 516). A total of 229 staff completed the questionnaire. Most staff (85%) reported having contact with clients who have a diagnosis of BPD at least once a month or more frequently, with 32% of respondents reporting daily contact. Eighty per cent of respondents found dealing with clients who have a BPD to be moderate to very difficult; 84% of staff felt that dealing with this client group was more difficult than dealing with other client groups. Most staff (82%) believed that, as mental health professionals, they had a role in the assessment, management and referral of clients with BPD, as well as in educating and providing information. Staff readily identified resources which would be helpful to them when working with such clients. It was encouraging to see that the majority of staff (95%) indicated their willingness to gain further education and training in the management of these clients. Although many staff believed they were knowledgeable about and confident in managing these clients, most staff also indicated difficulties posed by these clients and perceived a need for further education and training in this area.

Experience, knowledge and attitudes of mental health staff regarding patients' problematic drug and alcohol use.

The aim of this study was to assess the experience, knowledge and attitudes of mental health staff regarding patients' problematic drug and alcohol use in order to provide direction for planned drug and alcohol education. A 47-item questionnaire was developed and individually posted to all mental health staff employed by Central Sydney Area Health Service (n = 536). Three hundred and thirty-eight (63%) staff members completed the questionnaire. Thirty-six percent of respondents had received drug and alcohol training and 41% had drug and alcohol work experience. Drug and alcohol training and work experience were associated with increased drug and alcohol knowledge. Respondents' perception of their knowledge and competence was positively correlated with their actual knowledge. Most staff reported having regular contact with patients with psychotic illnesses and drug and alcohol problems. The majority considered the management of this patient group difficult and currently inadequate. Seventy percent believed that as mental health professionals they had a role to play in the management of their patients' drug and alcohol problems. Almost all (95%) were willing to participate in further education and training in this area. Mental health staff are often confronted with drug and alcohol problems in patients with psychotic illnesses. They perceive a need for drug and alcohol education and training specific to the management of these patients. Future research will need to evaluate outcomes of education and training programs for both staff and patients.