Physical health care for mentally ill patients and independent life skills training

Project facts

Project promoter:
Psychiatric Hospital Bohnice
Project Number:
CZ11-0028
Target groups
People with mental health problems
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€928,797
Final project cost:
€909,545
From Norway Grants:
€ 727,636
The project is carried out in:
Hlavní město Praha

Description

Each serious somatic illness leads to disruption of homeostatic functions including hormonal reregulation, changes to the immunity system and related psychical changes. Some somatic illnesses may lead to mental disorder. A secondary unwanted effect of psychiatric treatment is an increased appetite and weight gain, which compromises patients’ fitness and may lead to development of cardio-vascular or metabolic illnesses. The main objective of this project is to create a screening system for cardio-vascular and metabolic risks in patients. The project will also create methodology on comprehensive therapy for the physical health of patients suffering from mental disorders and on comprehensive therapy care / training for the integration into normal life. The physical training methodology is comprised by four segments: physiotherapy, kinesio-therapy, ergo-therapy and nutrition care for psychiatric patients. The second part of the project is to prepare suitable premises for providing this physical therapy. The Norwegian partner is the psychiatric ward of Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge in Tromsø. The partner will share the good practice, knowledge and experience with implementation of new rehabilitation methods with focus on psychiatric and somatic health care.

Summary of project results

The most significant cause of the death of patients with severe mental illness is cardiovascular disease. In order to mitigate this situation, the project aimed to create a comprehensive screening and intervention programme for patients with mental disorder with cardiovascular risks in Psychiatric Hospital Bohnice (PHB). Project has helped to improve the care of psychiatric patients and to enhance the quality of their life. The functionality of new system including monitoring of its effectiveness has been tested and 325 patients benefited from its implementation. One of main contributions of the project was that PHB has managed to take care of the somatic health of psychiatrically ill patients for the full length of their stay in the hospital. During the first examination, the patient has been screened for cardiovascular and metabolic risks, while appropriate patients have attended physiotherapy, nutrition counseling, ergotherapy and kinesiotherapy (different methodologies have been developed). In their free time, they have had the opportunity to visit newly established PEER club (683 visits), where psychotherapy has taken place with the help of trained peer therapists (peer therapists methodology was developed). Before leaving the hospital, suitable patients have had the opportunity to use newly created 6 training flats to prepare for their own lives. All physical activities have been monitored and data have been recorded in the hospital information system. Equipment for physiotherapy was purchased in order to allow the necessary care to be provided. Rehabilitation rooms were reconstructed. Methodology for screening of cardiovascular and metabolic risks of patients was developed. There were also created other methodologies such as methodology of comprehensive rehabilitation care for mental health in SOMA scores (5481 patients screened), physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, ergotherapy and nutritional care or system for monitoring physical activity. There were 5 exchange study visits with Norwegian partner in order to share experience and 3 conferences organized. Thanks to the realization of the project,it is possible to take care of the somatic health of selected patients. The involvement of the partners FBMI (Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in the Czech Republic) and NST (Norwegian Center for Integrated Care and Telemedicine) has been beneficial for the implementation of new information tools in regular patient work.Skills of employees were increased (trained 100 employees) what have contributed to the higher efficiency of their work and their motivation.

Summary of bilateral results

The involvement of the partners FBMI (Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in the Czech Republic) and NST (Norwegian Center for Integrated Care and Telemedicine) has been beneficial for the implementation of new information tools in regular patient work. During the project implementation, partnership with 2 organisations was developed. Representatives from Czech Faculty of Biomedical Engineering participated at implementation of monitoring of physical activity of patients and incorporated these data into specially newly created system called „diani.soma“ and other hospital information systems. Moreover, they trained hospital personnel in collection of statistic data and their proper evaluation. Representatives from Norwegian Center for Integrated Care and Telemedicine took part in selection of proper data which should be integrated into the hospital information system and other IT issues such as safety of transfer of medical data through internet, example (standard) from „HelseNet“ was used. They also take a share in writing an scholar article.