METHODS: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 7 service users and 6 staff members (85% female, age 14-42) on a generic mental health inpatient unit for children and adolescents. Interviews aimed to identify how young people viewed theirphysical health and factors affecting physical health and lifestyle and identify any support needed to improve physical health. Thematic analysis was conducted. .
RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed the main factors affecting physical health and lifestyle for young people. Three main themes were individual factors (subthemes were mental health symptoms, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs), environmental factors (subthemes were opportunities in a restricted environment and food provision), and the influence of others (subthemes were peers, staff, family members). These factors often overlapped and could promote a healthy lifestyle or combine to increase the risk of poor physical health. Young people discussed their preferences for physical health initiatives and what would help them to live a healthier lifestyle.
CONCLUSIONS: Promoting physical health on inpatient units for young people is an important, yet neglected area of mental health research. We have identified a range of complex factors which have an impact on their physical health, and there is a pervasive need to address the barriers that young people experience to living a healthy lifestyle. There is an increasingly strong evidence base suggesting the benefits of physical health interventions to improve outcomes, and future work should identify ways to implement such interventions considering the barriers discussed in this article. Further collaborative research is needed with young people, clinical teams, caregivers, and commissioners to ensure improvements are made to clinical care provision and optimisation of the inpatient environment.
方法:我们对7名服务用户和6名工作人员(85%为女性,14-42岁)在儿童和青少年的普通精神健康住院病房。访谈旨在确定年轻人如何看待他们的身体健康以及影响身体健康和生活方式的因素,并确定改善身体健康所需的任何支持。进行了专题分析。.
结果:主题分析揭示了影响年轻人身体健康和生活方式的主要因素。三个主要主题是个体因素(次主题是心理健康症状,知识,态度和信念),环境因素(次主题是有限环境中的机会和食物供应),和其他人的影响(子主题是同龄人,工作人员,家庭成员)。这些因素往往重叠,可以促进健康的生活方式或结合起来增加身体健康不良的风险。年轻人讨论了他们对身体健康计划的偏好,以及什么可以帮助他们过上更健康的生活方式。
结论:促进年轻人住院单位的身体健康是一个重要的,但忽视了心理健康研究领域。我们已经确定了一系列影响他们身体健康的复杂因素,有一个普遍的需要解决的障碍,年轻人经历过健康的生活方式。越来越多的证据表明,身体健康干预措施可以改善预后。考虑到本文讨论的障碍,未来的工作应该确定实施此类干预措施的方法。需要与年轻人进行进一步的合作研究,临床团队,看护者,和专员,以确保改善临床护理提供和优化住院环境。