Making Every Contact Count: Mental Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To explore the barriers and facilitators for clinicians, stakeholders and patients in a primary care setting in endeavouring to implement approaches to improve the physical health of patients with mental illness.
IRAS ID
200959
Contact name
Joy Duxbury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 0 days
Research summary
This project focuses on the MECC (Making Every Contact Count) brief intervention initiative. This aims to influence the nature and quality of encounters with health care professionals so they pay attention more explicitly to physical health needs. We know from previous research that people with serious mental health problems are more prone to physical health problems. This is so much the case that there are significantly greater risks of poor health or dying from preventable diseases. These adverse outcomes relate to various aspects of disadvantage and inequality, such as economic circumstances, gender and ethnicity. On top of this, mental health patients are a stigmatised and socially excluded group, and mainstream treatments such as long-term medication also negatively impact on physical well-being.\n\nFirst, I will examine the literature that relates to brief intervention approaches, like MECC, in this context. Second, I will examine case studies in primary care to identify things that help and hinder the implementation, uptake and experience of these approaches. I will interview staff, stakeholders and service users.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0632
Date of REC Opinion
14 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion