Improving rates of metabolic monitoring on an inpatient psychiatric ward

Abstract

Objectives Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death in patients with mental illness. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of co-occurring cardiovascular risk factors, seen in high frequency in severe mental illness. Despite ease of diagnosis, monitoring is often poor across psychiatric populations. This report details a quality improvement initiative undertaken on an inpatient psychiatric ward to improve rates of metabolic monitoring.Methods Four key interventions were developed: (1) A nurse-led intervention, where nurses were upskilled in performing metabolic monitoring, (2) Education was provided to all staff, (3) Introduction of a suite of interventions to improve metabolic risk and (4) Ongoing consumer involvement. A pre–post intervention study design was used to measure effectiveness, with an audit of metabolic monitoring rates performed 12 months after the intervention began.Results Rates of weight and height monitoring both increased from 46.0% to 69.5% (p=0.0185) and body mass index (BMI) recordings increased from 33% to 63% (p=0.0031). Rates of waist circumference monitoring increased from 44.2% to 65.2% (p=0.0498). Blood pressure (BP) measurements increased from 88.5% to 100% (p=0.0188). Lipid monitoring rates improved from 23% to 69.5% (p=0.001). Rates of glucose monitoring increased from 74% to 82.5% (p=0.8256), although this was not statistically significant.Conclusions We found that metabolic monitoring improved following these simple interventions, with a statistically significant increase in measurement rates of weight, BP, height, lipids, BMI and waist circumference (p<0.05). Overall monitoring of glucose also improved, although not to significant levels. The intervention was acceptable to both patients and staff.