Journal article
Rural and metropolitan South Australian mental health workers' views about nurse prescribing: A thematic analysis
Health & Social Care in the Community, Vol.27(2), pp.356-365
2019
PMID: 30198070
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Almost one third of the South Australian population reside in regional locations, which are serviced by just 8% of the State's total psychiatrist workforce. Consequently, access to psychotropic medications in regional South Australia (SA) can be challenging. Granting prescribing rights to mental health nurses (MHNs) located in regional settings presents an opportunity to increase consumer access to psychotropic medications. The aim of the study was to understand the perspectives of mental health workers (MHWs) practising in regional and metropolitan settings towards MHN prescribing. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Seventeen MHWs participated in three focus groups, including two in regional SA and one in a metropolitan site within the State of SA. Participants reported difficulties in accessing medicines in regional areas. The regional focus groups indicated that MHN prescribing may help to release psychiatrists' time and provide quicker assessment and diagnosis. By contrast, the metropolitan focus group expressed reservations about MHN prescribing. Participants indicated that suitable governance structures supported by appropriate education programmes were a necessary prerequisite for MHN prescribing of psychotropic medications. MHN prescribing may help to mitigate the impact of psychiatrist shortages in regional South Australia and possibly in other areas of the world where recruitment is a challenge. The provision of adequate education and the establishment of a suitable governance and support framework are considered necessary steps to progress MHN prescribing.
Details
- Title
- Rural and metropolitan South Australian mental health workers' views about nurse prescribing: A thematic analysis
- Creators
- Kuda Muyambi - University of South AustraliaMatthew Leach - University of South AustraliaLee Martinez - University of South AustraliaKathryn Cronin - South Australia HealthRuth McPhail - South Australia HealthShaun Dennis - South Australia HealthSandra Walsh - University of South AustraliaRichard Gray - La Trobe UniversityMartin Jones (Corresponding Author) - University of South Australia
- Publication Details
- Health & Social Care in the Community, Vol.27(2), pp.356-365
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991012911998802368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health; National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article