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Gaps in health care for the somatic health of outpatients with severe mental illness
Author(s) -
Hasselt Fenneke M.,
Schorr Susanne G.,
Mookhoek Evert J.,
Brouwers Jacobus R. B. J.,
Loonen Anton J. M.,
Taxis Katja
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2012.00859.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pharmacy , mental health , pharmacist , mental illness , health care , family medicine , psychiatry , cross sectional study , pathology , economics , economic growth
The physical health of outpatients with severe mental illness (SMI) can be improved by changes in the health‐care system. Analysis of current practice is necessary to develop these strategies. We compared the number of somatic health problems of outpatients with SMI with the frequency of consulting a general practitioner (GP). This was a cross‐sectional study based on interviews, and records from the GP and the pharmacy. We checked whether Dutch community pharmacies had complete and correct information about the patients' medication. We observed that all patients ( n = 118) had somatic problems in need of clinical attention. Patients who visited their GP less than once a year (35%, n = 42), had a mean of 2.8 somatic health problems. This was less than patients who consulted their GP more than once a year ( P ≤ 0.01). In 37% of cases, the pharmacy did not have adequate information on the drug use. Many patients with SMI seemed to have insufficient contact with their GP for their somatic health problems. Insufficient information about the patients' medication suggested that the pharmacist and GP should increase exchange of information. Mental health nurses can take a lead in coordinating the care to improve somatic health for their patients.