Health promotion in psychiatry and mental health: The example of metabolic syndrome and nursing practices

Introduction: Life expectancy in psychiatric patients is reduced by 15 to 20 years due to the presence of comorbidities and the lifestyle of these patients. Metabolic syndrome, also a side effect of antipsychotic drugs, is an aggravating factor of this phenomenon, which is why health promotion is essential. The objective of this study is to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of psychiatric nurses with regard to metabolic syndrome, using N. Pender’s health promotion model as a framework.
Methodology: A multicenter descriptive study using a « knowledge, attitude, practice » survey was conducted in 16 psychiatric departments in the Ile-de-France region. 70 nurses were interviewed via online questionnaires.
Results: The results show partial knowledge. A gap exists between attitudes and nursing practices. The nurses’ actions mainly involve counseling. The type of nursing knowledge is discussed, as well as the need for reflection on the nurse-patient relationship. Nursing interventions need to be further developed to better manage metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Training is needed to carry out preventive measures and promote health more effectively.