Rural Remote Health
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Rural Remote Health · Aug 2018
'When you're it': a qualitative study exploring the rural nurse experience of managing acute mental health presentations.
A higher proportion of chronic mental illness is reported for populations residing in inner and outer regional (IOR) areas when compared to major cities in Australia. Conversely, fewer mental health professionals work in IOR areas when compared to major cities indicating poorer access to services for rural populations. Rural emergency departments (EDs) and urgent care centres (UCCs) deliver a broad range of services. Often they are the first point of care for consumers experiencing acute mental health issues. Rural nurses working in EDs and UCCs require a diverse clinical skill set to manage complex presentations, often with limited support and resources. Developments in telehealth services have reportedly improved access for rural consumers. It is known that nurses report a lack of skills and confidence when managing mental health presentations. Despite these challenges, there is little documented regarding the experience of generalist nurses managing acute mental health presentations in rural hospitals that have limited support of community mental health teams and no onsite inpatient mental health facilities. ⋯ The findings from this study suggest generalist nurses are the frontline providers of care for mental health consumers in rural EDs and UCCs. Nurses feel ill-equipped for assessing and managing mental health presentations, relying heavily on local mental health teams and telephone triage who provide limited onsite support. The need to support nurses through training and mentoring relationships with community mental health teams is highlighted by this study in conjunction with improving the delivery of mental health services in rural areas.
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Rural Remote Health · Aug 2018
Surviving, not thriving: a qualitative analysis of parents' perceptions of physical activity participation for rurally residing children with a disability.
Preliminary research suggests that rurally residing children with a disability seldom participate in the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day and face multiple barriers to participation. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perceptions of physical activity participation of rurally residing children with a disability, including barriers and any factors that may facilitate their participation. ⋯ This investigation of parents' perceptions suggests that the physical activity participation of rurally residing children with a disability is currently insufficient to adequately support the health of this population. It appears service providers need to address the factors that impede participation, including issues surrounding access, ability and isolation, but should also support the parents' behaviours, community opportunities and the child's own drive to participate. Existing support structures aimed at promoting physical activity should be enhanced and more inclusive, and accessible strategies should be developed.