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Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have high rates of physical illnesses, and carers are core partners in managing their physical health.Qualitative research on carers' views/experiences of physical health care is limited, and there is no published systematic review that synthesizes the current evidence. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Carers' views from seven articles were synthesised into nine themes and six subthemes describing their perceived facilitators, barriers and roles regarding the physical health care of people with SMI.Carers' voiced similar concerns to those previously identified by professionals and service users, particularly in relation to poor service access/responsiveness and communication difficulties with healthcare professionals. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health nurses should be aware of the risk of diagnostic overshadowing and ensure they are both responsive and sensitive to carers concerns about the physical health of people with SMI.It is essential for mental health nurses to actively involve carers in managing physical health, especially in formulating physical healthcare plans and providing clear practical advice/information. Introduction: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have high rates of physical illnesses. Informal carers are core partners in addressing these issues, however research on their views/experiences is limited and there is no systematic review published on the topic. Aim: This integrative thematic review explored the experiences and views of carers on physical health care in SMI by synthesizing the existing qualitative research findings. Methods: Six databases were searched from 2000 to 2021. Data were extracted and synthesised using thematic integrative analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results: Five studies were included. Nine themes were identified conceptualising carers' perceived facilitators, barriers and roles regarding physical health care for people with SMI. Discussion: Carers felt that receiving practical help and a specialised role for mental health nurses would facilitate better physical health care. Lack of coordination/communication and poor service access/responsiveness were common barriers, often compounded by diagnostic overshadowing. Carers are involved in promoting healthy lifestyles, monitoring physical health and supporting access to services. Implications for Practice: Mental health nurses should ensure they are responsive to carers' concerns and proactively support them to promote the physical health of people with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: People diagnosed with schizophrenia have poor cardiometabolic health, with elevated 10‐year cardiovascular disease risk (CVD‐R) scores and low quality of life (QOL).There is a lack of understanding about CVD‐R scores in people diagnosed with early psychosis and no studies have quantified CVD‐R using the QRISK®3 calculator in this client group.Establishing potential relationships between modifiable lifestyle behaviours/treatment characteristics with CVD‐R or QOL may identify targets for early intervention. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This is the first study to quantify the individual 10‐year CVD‐R of people diagnosed with early psychosis utilising the QRISK®3 calculator.This is also the first study to investigate relationships between QOL and CVD‐R and lifestyle factors in a cohort of Thai people diagnosed with early psychosis.We observed low levels of physical health‐related QOL and high levels of CVR‐R despite participants reporting relatively positive lifestyle behaviours. What are the implications for practice?: The cardiometabolic health state of this client group warrants as much attention as for those with an enduring severe mental illness; early preventative interventions are warranted.It may be useful to routinely quantify the CVD‐R of people diagnosed with early psychosis using the QRISK®3 calculator, even in the absence of immediate concerns about lifestyle behaviours.Mental health nurses should utilise evidence‐based approaches such as increasing activity levels, dietary counselling and behaviour change interventions to mitigate poor physical health in this client group. Introduction: People diagnosed with schizophrenia have poor cardiometabolic health, with elevated 10‐year cardiovascular disease risk (CVD‐R) scores and poor quality of life (QOL). There is lack of understanding of these issues in early psychosis. Aims: To quantify CVD‐R in people diagnosed with early psychosis and profile their obesity prevalence, lifestyle behaviours and QOL. Secondary aim was to explore associations between lifestyle behaviours/treatment characteristics and CVD‐R/QOL. Method: Baseline data from 81 RCT participants were used to profile cardiometabolic health risks (QRISK®3, BMI and waist circumference). Participants self‐reported lifestyle behaviours and QOL. Relationships between modifiable treatment/lifestyle factors and QOL/CVD‐R were explored. Results: Participants' relative risk for CVD over 10 years was 1.93 times higher than healthy counterparts; 39% also had an obese BMI and physical QOL was poor. No significant associations were observed between CVD‐R or QOL with treatment characteristics and lifestyle factors. Discussion: Despite positive lifestyle behaviours, participants had elevated CVD‐R scores and poor physical health‐related QOL. Quantifying CVD‐R with QRISK®3 may highlight the need for health promotion interventions. Implications for practice: Mental health professionals should be aware that elevated CVD‐R exists in the context of relatively healthy lifestyle behaviours and utilise evidence‐based interventions to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]