Nurses' perception on mental health interventions in Primary Health Care

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Mental Health
• Primary Health Care

Background:

• Mental health interventions are integral to Primary Health Care (PHC).
• Nurses' perceptions of their roles and qualifications in mental healthcare are crucial for effective service delivery.
• Understanding these perceptions informs targeted training and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Primary Health Care nurses' perceptions of mental health interventions in their daily practice.
• To identify specific areas where nurses feel most and least qualified to perform mental health activities.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, descriptive-exploratory study was conducted across 66 PHC Units.
• The study included a sample of 239 nurses.
• Interventions were categorized into universal practices, specific mental health activities, and educational/universal practices.

Main Results:

• Nurses generally viewed universal practices as within their scope, except for Integrative and Complementary Practices.
• Nurses reported lower confidence in performing therapeutic interpersonal relationships, advanced rehabilitation, therapeutic groups, and scale applications.
• Only 40% of nurses felt qualified for continuing education in mental health.

Conclusions:

• Nurses acknowledge and perform mental health practices within their daily roles.
• A notable perception exists among nurses of not feeling adequately qualified for certain advanced mental health interventions and educational aspects.
• Addressing these qualification gaps is essential for enhancing mental healthcare delivery in PHC settings.