Targeted Educational Interventions to Enhance Competency in Managing Patients Living with Mental Health Conditions in the Home Health Setting: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review is to identify targeted educational interventions to educate home health clinicians in caring for people living with mental health conditions in the home. Persons living with a mental health condition face health disparities including higher rates of chronic health conditions and reduced life expectancy. Clinicians report a lack of knowledge and discomfort managing patients with mental health conditions, who may have unpredictable behaviors. Clinicians need targeted educational interventions to enhance competency in managing patients living with mental health conditions. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature using PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Electronic database searches limited to Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases were completed. Key terms included, “Mental illness* OR illnesses OR health OR behaviors* OR disorders, OR diseases or psychiatric illness/s OR diseases OR disorders OR disruptive behaviors and behavioral healthcare competence, targeted education interventions and PT OR physical therapist OR RN OR nurse OR LPN OR licensed practical nurses OR SLP OR speech language pathologist OR speech therapist OR OT OR occupational therapist.” There is a gap in the literature on what type of education intervention is effective in enhancing home health clinicians’ competency to manage patients living with mental health conditions. Due to the lack of evidence on educational programs to support home health clinicians in caring for people living with mental health conditions, research is needed on training formats, pedagogical approaches, and learning assessment tools to provide education to clinicians in the home health setting.