Survey of Australian mental health nurses on physical activity promotion

Abstract

Physical activity is important to the physical and mental health of people with serious mental illness (SMI). This study investigated views of public mental health nurses on physical activity promotion for consumers with SMI, through a national electronic survey in Australia. Consumers with SMI were viewed to be less physically active than the general community. Two-thirds of nurses wanted training on exercise support of consumers. Motivation of consumers was indicated to be a major barrier. There was great variability in discussion frequency between nurses and exercise physiologists. An analysis of open comments revealed two themes: (1) access – opportunities for health education, participation in physical activity programmes and nurses' connections to exercise physiologists; and (2) commitment – nurses promoting physical activity and building competencies. Findings indicate that initiatives to increase physical activity promotion for people with SMI are likely to be supported by nurses in the mental health sector of Australia.

Keywords::

• physical activity promotion
• nursing
• integrated care
• mental illness

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the mental health nurses for their time and valuable input. They also thank the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, particularly Kim Ryan and Haylie Maylia for their invaluable assistance in distributing the survey. The Research Advancement Award Scheme and Merit Grant Scheme of Central Queensland University provided the funding for this project.