Mental Health Staff Capability and Practice for Promoting Physical Activity: Evidence From a Mental Health Community‐Managed Organisation
Regan Lamble, Gemechu Wirtu, Andrew Watkins, Mark Orr, Jackie Curtis, Laurence Gagnon, Jade Ryall, Hamish Fibbins, Darren Haywood, Cristina M. Caperchione, David Simmons, Therese Fletcher, Nicolas H. Hart, Simon Rosenbaum, Oscar LedermanABSTRACT
Issue Addressed
People with complex mental health conditions experience substantial reductions in life expectancy, largely due to preventable chronic disease. Mental health community‐managed organisations (CMOs) are well placed to support physical health, yet little is known about staff capability to promote physical activity (PA).
Methods
A cross‐sectional survey was administered to staff at a CMO in Sydney. Staff barriers, attitudes, confidence and knowledge relating to PA and physical health were assessed using the Physical Activity Attitudes Confidence Knowledge (PACK) and modified Metabolic Barriers Attitudes Confidence Knowledge (mM‐BACK) questionnaires. PA promotional practices and personal PA behaviours were also assessed and relationships between these factors explored.
Results
Fifty‐six of 78 eligible staff (72%) completed the survey. Mean scores were 34.8/45 (SD = 3.6) on PACK and 43.8/65 (SD = 6.7) on mM‐BACK. Perceived barriers were generally low; workload was among those most commonly identified. Across both tools, attitudes scored highest, while confidence and knowledge scored lower. Only 23% reported familiarity with PA guidelines. Although 82% discussed PA with clients in the previous five workdays, 63% made no formal referrals. In correlation analyses, PA conversations were associated with mM‐BACK attitudes ( ρ = 0.43, p < 0.001) and PACK confidence ( ρ = 0.34, p = 0.011), while capability was not associated with referrals.
Conclusions
CMO staff held positive attitudes towards PA promotion and commonly discussed PA with clients, but gaps remain in confidence, knowledge and referral practices.
So What?
Building workforce capability, clarifying referral pathways and embedding organisational support for PA promotion within mental health CMOs may help reduce preventable health inequities in this population.