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Purpose: To explore the views and opinions of nonconsumer researchers to the concept of an Expert Consumer Researcher Group. Design and Methods: Qualitative exploratory involving individual interviews with nonconsumer mental health researchers experienced in working collaboratively with consumer researchers. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings: Participants viewed the concept positively, albeit with caution. Perceived advantages included: greater visibility and enhanced access; collegiality; sharing and creating expertise; broader acceptance; making it mandatory; and structure and location. Participants were concerned about potential tokenism and implementation barriers. Practice Implications: Consumer involvement enhances the quality and relevance of research, potentially impacting clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine nursing students' perceptions of Experts by Experience impact on theoretical and practical learning. Design and Methods: Qualitative exploratory study involving focus groups with undergraduate nursing students from five European countries and Australia. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings: Participants described positive impacts as: bridging the theory and practice gap through first-hand experience, including sub-themes: bringing theory to life; can't be taught any other way, and innovative teaching methods fueling curiosity. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Integrating theory and practice is key for quality mental health nursing practice. Experts by experience can potentially contribute to reducing this enduring gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Exploration of the views and experiences of nurse academics and consumer academics and educators regarding the scope of consumer participation in mental health nursing education. Design and Methods: A qualitative, exploratory inquiry into the description and views of mental health nurse academics and consumer educators about these roles Findings: A significant variation in roles from guest speaker to substantive academic positions was evident, with most involvement brief and specifically teaching focused. Consumer participation in education was generally valued but noted to be limited in breadth and scope. Some concern was raised about the relevance of consumer academic roles, with a clear conceptualization of the consumer academic role necessary to facilitate their contribution to the education of health professionals. Practice Implications: Mental health consumer involvement in the education of nurses has been shown to impact positively on the attitudes of health professionals to people with mental illness. Advocacy for increased, meaningful input from consumers into nursing education is therefore necessary to improve practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper examines the findings from an exit interview with a cardiometabolic health nurse (CHN) following a 26‐week trial. Design and Methods: The CHN participated in a semi‐structured exit interview following completion of the 26‐week trial. Applied thematic analysis was used to identify themes contained in the resultant transcript. Findings: Contrary to the literature, the CHN did not consider additional training necessary to undertake the role. The CHN felt additional information regarding the research implications of the trial and greater organizational support would contribute to better consumer and health service outcomes. Practice Implications: While personally rewarding, more can be done to help the CHN role reach its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose A cardiometabolic specialist nursing role could potentially improve physical health of people with serious mental illness. Design and Methods A national survey of Australian nurses working in mental health settings investigated predictors of support for the role. Findings Predictors included belief in physical healthcare neglect, interest in training; higher perceived value of improving physical health care. Practice Implications The findings suggest that nurses see the cardiometabolic health nurse role as a promising initiative for closing gaps in cardiometabolic health care and skilling other nurses in mental health. However, as the majority of variance in cardiometabolic health nurse support was unexplained, more research is urgently needed on factors that explain differences in cardiometabolic health nurse endorsement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aims of this article were to evaluate the Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire, and measure nursing students' attitudes to consumer participation. Design and Methods Undergraduate nursing students ( n = 116) completed the Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire at the start of a course on recovery for mental health nursing practice. Findings The current findings confirm an endorsement of consumer participation in individual care processes, but less agreement with participation in organizational-level processes, such as management of mental health services and education of providers. This article also confirms that the questionnaire can effectively measure attitudes to consumer participation. Practice Implications The participation of consumers is critical for achieving person-centered services mental health services. It is important that nursing education influence positive attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To identify how frequently nurses in mental health services communicate about physical health of consumers with other healthcare professionals, and whether such collaboration is associated with physical care actions with consumers. Design and Methods An online national Australian survey of nurses in mental health services. Findings Nurses discuss physical health frequently with general practitioners, psychiatrists, and case managers, and less frequently with occupational therapists, social workers, and nurse practitioners. Interprofessional attention was positively associated with direct physical health care such as clinical screening and health education. Practice Implications Interprofessional communication may support nurses in direct physical healthcare actions with consumers. Increasing collaborations with nurse practitioners, social workers, and occupational therapists need to be explored as part of clinical teamwork development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The study aims to ascertain nurses' views on their preparedness to provide physical health care, and their identified training needs. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used a qualitative exploratory design. Thirty-eight nurses working in a regional mental health setting participated in focus groups. FINDINGS: Three main themes were identified: (a) the need for physical healthcare training, (b) modes of training, (c) access to training, and (d) organizational commitment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The philosophy and design of training must reflect workplace context, and take into account individual learning styles. Organizational support is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]