Title: Characteristics of lifestyle and physical health of individuals with mental illness dwelling the community
Abstract:
People with severe mental illness are at higher risk of physical health problems and higher early mortality than the general population. Their physical health is affected by unhealthy behaviors such as lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, and smoking. In addition, side effects of psychotropic medications, attitudes of medical staff, difficulty in accessing care, and self-stigma can contribute to poor physical health. The purpose of this study was to clarify the lifestyle and physical health of persons with mental illness. A questionnaire survey on sociodemographic data and lifestyle, and activity meter measurement were conducted to 20 outpatients with schizophrenia (P-group) and 21 healthy controls (H-group), and statistical analysis were carried out using SPSS 29.0 J for Windows. Compared to the H-Group, the P- group was more likely to have breakfast (p<0.05), less likely to have a drinking habit (p<0.05), less likely to have regular health checkups (p<0.01), shorter commute times (p<0.01), and higher BMI (p<0.05), number of steps per day?p<0.05?. Althouth the P-group’s health habits were not bad, tend to have a higher BMI, less walking and did not receive regular health examinations than for the H-group. Therefore, the results suggest that it is necessary to educate people to understand the necessity of health checkups and to motivate them to pay attention to their own bodies. The results of this study are expected to be helpful in the development of healthcare programs to maintain and improve the physical health of individuals with mental illness.
Audience Take Away:
- Increase awareness of the need to assess physical health of individuals with mental illness
- Understand of the importance of physical health care for people with mental illness
- Lead to the development of approaches a holistic approach in mental health nursing
