Impact of the Therapy Capability Framework on the Provision of Physical Health Care in a Large Publicly Funded Mental Health Service

TL;DR

A framework was developed to improve physical health care in mental health services, showing increased service provision over time.

Contribution

The study evaluates a new framework to enhance physical health care delivery in mental health services.

Findings

Nursing staff had higher capability levels than Allied Health staff in physical health care.

There was a significant increase in the provision of physical health services over 12 months.

The framework may help implement physical health interventions in mental health services.

Abstract

People with mental illness have poor physical health outcomes. While clinical staff recognise the value of physical health in mental healthcare, they report low confidence and a lack of resources and training. As a result, physical health needs are often unaddressed in routine care. A physical healthcare therapies capability framework (PHC TCF) was developed to support staff in developing capability in addressing the physical health needs of consumers of a large public mental health service. The aims of the current study were to evaluate: (i) staff capability in physical healthcare and the association with provision of service; (ii) changes in capability and service provision. Self-rated PHC TCF level and Provision of Service (POS) statistics for physical health assessment and intervention over 12-months were analysed. The nursing profession was associated with higher PHC TCF level than Allied Health (p <.01). While there was no significant change in PHC TCF levels, POS significantly increased over 12 months (z = -2.69, p =.007). This study demonstrated that a PHC TCF may be a useful tool to reinforce and implement physical health interventions in public mental health services.

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