Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: This 12-month retrospective, naturalistic study determined medication adherence, psychiatric hospitalizations, cost of services, cost of prescriptions, and rates of polypharmacy (less than 4 versus greater than or equal to 4 concomitant psychotropic medications) for patients receiving clozapine versus quetiapine therapy for the treatment of schizophrenia in an outpatient mental health facility. Methods: The clozapine and quetiapine groups were compared for gender, age, medication adherence rates, hospitalizations, cost of care, polypharmacy, and types of concomitant psychotropic medications over 12-months. The polypharmacy groups for clozapine and quetiapine (e.g., greater than or equal to 4 psychotropic medications versus less than 4 psychotropic medications) were compared for medication adherence. Results: A total of 71 patients met the entry criteria (44 = clozapine and 27 = quetiapine). The two groups were similar for age, gender, court order, average daily dose, and hospitalization rates. The clozapine group had a higher medication adherence rate of 0.901 (e.g., 329 days supply) compared to the quetiapine group’s adherence rate of 0.723 (e.g., 264 days supply) (p=0.007). The clozapine group had higher costs for medication, labs, and other services compared to the quetiapine group, as well as total costs of services (p=0.004). The clozapine group was on fewer concomitant psychotropic medications compared to the quetiapine group based on the rates of polypharmacy. Conclusions: Patient on clozapine therapy had improved medication adherence and lower rates of polypharmacy, but higher costs of care compared to quetiapine. The frequent monitoring required with clozapine may result in medication adherence that results in improved efficacy, less polypharmacy, and lower hospitalization rates. Further studies in larger populations are needed to compare different frequency rates of monitoring patients on outcome measures over a longer period of treatment.

This project explored the challenges confronting clinicians who work with the Assertive Community Treatment Program (ACT), a government-sponsored clinic-based program providing services for individuals with persistent and recurrent mental health challenges in a large metropolitan city in the southern United States. The project involved semi-structured interviews with 15 health care clinicians to explore what they perceived as challenges and their recommendations for addressing them. Themes were organized around the 6 dimensions of the the relationship-based care model: leadership, teamwork, professional nursing, care delivery, resources, and outcomes. Identified patient challenges included transportation, lack of health insurance, housing, acceptance of certified peer specialists, the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues, problems with tracking patients, family interference, and fear of discharge from the program. Challenges related to the work environment were identified as poor pay for mental health staff, increasing paper work, professional boundaries, and balancing work demand and personal experiences. Recommendations to address challenges included open communication, interdisciplinary meetings to improve coordination of resources, increased support for family participation, and community support for mental health services. This project adds to the knowledge on ACT programs and will assist organizations planning or delivering ACT services in channeling resources to areas recommended by ACT clinicians. Recommended organizational changes will provide a positive social change to improve care of individuals with mental health challenges in the community.

Implementation of Evidenced-Based Practices to Improve Follow-up Care Following Inpatient Mental Health Hospitalizations. Jacqlyne W Bowman, Dr. Judy Rice, Dr. Beth Schreiner, Dr. Ernie Maupin, College of Nursing, East Tennessee State University Persons hospitalized for mental health conditions are frequently lost to follow up after discharge. The aim of this quality improvement project is to increase the rate of attendance at follow up appointments after hospital discharge back to the community. The focus of this project is the development and implementation of a discharge questionnaire for both clients and case management to better understand the needs of the clients during the discharge process. Behavioral health technicians employed by the agency are including the discharge questionnaire in the admission packet for a 12-week trial period. This discharge questionnaire asks clients their preferred location for follow up appointments, if they are active in their care, if transportation is needed for follow up appointments and verifies the patient’s phone number. Clients complete the discharge questionnaire and return it to the behavioral health technicians with their admission packet. The discharge questionnaire is then given to case managers to assess and address concerns outlined on the questionnaire. Data will be gathered over 12-weeks to determine if the rate of non-attendance decreases with the integration of the questionnaire. The project is in the implementation phase. The anticipated outcome is there will be an increase in the rate of attendance at follow-up appointments post discharge with the use of the discharge questionnaire. By utilizing the discharge questionnaire, case managers will be better able to determine barriers that lead to non-attendance to follow up appointments. With the barriers identified and addressed, individuals will be more likely to attend their follow-up appointments and medication compliance and rates of re-hospitalizations will improve.

Introduction: Family-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (FFCBT) is emphasized as an approach to optimize treatment outcomes for early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Parental engagement is critical to successful treatment. However, few studies have examined how to promote parental engagement during FFCBT. Additionally, from a parental perspective, there is a limited understanding of factors that influence parental engagement throughout treatment, including the role of nurses. Aims: To determine (i) how parents experience and understand their engagement in FFCBT provided for their child with early-onset OCD in community or outpatient mental health programs, and (ii) how parents describe the role of nurses related to parental engagement during the treatment process. Methods: This study used an interpretive description approach. Semi-structured interviews were completed with parents (n = 17) recruited from community or outpatient children’s mental health programs in the Hamilton Region of Southwestern Ontario. Treatment provider interviews (n = 9) augmented the data collected from parents’ perceptions of their engagement and the role of nurses during FFCBT. Interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clark’s (2006) thematic analysis process. Results: A conceptualized model was constructed to display and communicate the individual, interpersonal, and contextual influences identified by parents and treatment providers. These influences facilitated or inhibited parental engagement during treatment across distinct phases, levels, and stages of engagement. Six distinct nursing roles were identified that promoted parental engagement throughout treatment. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Without effective treatment, pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can interfere with childhood development. Early-onset OCD is a unique subtype of the disorder involving pediatric patients with symptoms that present before the age of 10 years. Family-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (FFCBT) emphasizing parental involvement is commonly used to treat pediatric OCD. However, parental engagement during FFCBT, including nurses’ roles, is poorly understood. This study aimed to increase knowledge about parental engagement during FFCBT for children with early-onset OCD receiving treatment in community programs. Data analysis of parent and treatment provider interviews identified various factors and how nurses influenced parental engagement during FFCBT. A model was made to display how these factors helped or hindered parental engagement during treatment and how nurses promoted engagement across three distinct phases. This new knowledge informed recommendations to promote parental engagement for treatment providers, improve service development and delivery, and strengthen nursing education.