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The development and implementation of a nurse‐led hepatitis C protocol for people with serious mental health problems
Author(s) -
LEWIS M.,
ALLEN H.,
WARR J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01589.x
Subject(s) - mental health , outreach , medicine , nursing , population , psychiatry , environmental health , political science , law
Accessible summary• Hepatitis C is a significant health issue for people with serious mental health problems. • Evidence indicates that the needs of people with serious mental health problems who have or are at risk of hepatitis C are not being met by services. • Nurses from an Assertive Outreach Team, Liver Disease Service, Blood‐Borne Virus Service and University worked together to develop a protocol to guide staff in providing co‐ordinated care to meet the needs of this client group.Abstract Hepatitis C (HCV) is a significant health issue for people with serious mental health problems (SMHP). Factors associated with this include high rates of substance use, injecting drug use, and lack of knowledge regarding the transmission and prevention of HCV. This population are at higher risk of experiencing conditions where transmission rates are high, e.g. night shelters and homelessness. People with SMHP also often have factors associated with acceleration of the disease, including excessive alcohol use and poor physical health. Nurses across services collaborated to develop and implement a protocol to address the needs of clients of an Assertive Outreach Team with or at risk of HCV. It has been successful in developing an effective approach to addressing the needs of people with or at risk of HCV and serious mental health problems. It guides staff in providing a flexible, accessible service for clients delivered across organizational boundaries. It has demonstrated improved health outcomes for clients. It is believed that this project can be used as a template to address other health needs of this client group for example diet, obesity and smoking.