Abstract
The study is designed to examine current physical health promotion practices and concerns of the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Although diagnosis of a mental disorder is associated with shortened life span (Brown, et al., 2000; Harris & Barraclough, 1998) very little is known about the actions or concerns of SMI individuals regarding their physical health outside of an illness episode. This study will expand the knowledge base about self-management activities in the population of individuals with serious mental disorders. The objective is to understand the range of physical health promotion issues that are of importance to this group of clients. This area of research is fundamental to building a program of health care based on the needs, wants, and abilities of consumers. We will identify issues, agendas, existing practices, and desired opportunities related to health promotion. Specific questions will address what subjects currently do or describe as physical health promotion activities, what concerns and worries are health related, what opportunities are wanted for health promotion, and what obstacles keep them from accomplishing health promotion activities.
Because physical health promotion has not been an integral part of mental health care, this study will also examine what role seriously mentally ill clients want the mental health care system versus the medical health care system to play in physical health promotion. The study design is exploratory. Data collection activities are designed to elicit information from subjects in ways that are empowering, facilitate disclosure, and define physical health promotion in ways that may be unique to this population. Techniques for data collection include focus groups, individual interviews, and responses to selected health promotion activities. Subjects will be recruited from: outpatient clinics, rehabilitation programs, and residential settings. Individual interviews and focus groups will be conducted by staff experienced in working with the seriously mentally ill. Data collection activities will be completed at sites with ongoing activities. All data collection activities will be recorded for later transcription to ensure adequate evaluation of all information provided. Interview and focus group questions will be developed within a self-regulation or self-management model in order to gather subject's ideas based on their own experiences. Recommended health promotion strategies (e.g., Healthy People 2010; illness prevention screening for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc.) will be used to frame some of the questions in order to determine how many conventional strategies may be part of ongoing physical health promotion activities.
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