Participatory Action Research in Public Mental Health and a School of Nursing: Qualitative Findings from an Academic-Community Partnership.

An academic-community partnership between a school of nursing (SON) at a public university (the University of Virginia, or UVA) and a public mental health clinic developed around a shared goal of finding an acceptable shared decision making (SDM) intervention targeting medication use by persons with serious mental illness. The planning meetings of the academic-community partnership were recorded and analyzed. Issues under the partnership process included 1) clinic values and priorities, 2) research agenda, 3) ground rules, and 4) communication.

Connecting congregations: technology resources influence parish nurse practice.

This descriptive pilot study evaluated the influence of health resource information education and the use of Web-based communication technology on the professional practice of the parish nurse in the congregational setting. Five parish nurse participants from varied denominations in rural and nonrural Virginia received a laptop computer, printer, video projector, and webcam along with high-speed Internet access in each congregational setting. The nurses attended two group education sessions that incorporated computer applications and training in accessing and using quality health information resources and communication applications such as a group "chat" software and webcam to communicate with others through high-speed Internet access.

Electronic screening for mental health in rural primary care: implementation.

The goals of this study were to develop a computer-based electronic screening tool (eScreening) and determine the feasibility of implementing eScreening for rural users of primary care. This descriptive pilot adapted existing screening measures for depression and alcohol abuse to a portable computer-based format and examined the feasibility of its adoption and use. This was a three-step design using convenience samples for (1) a focus group with providers, (2) usability testing with selected rural patients using the computerized touch screen, and (3) implementing the touch screen platform with a small sample in primary care to determine feasibility.

Electronic screening for mental health in rural primary care: feasibility and user testing.

Despite attention to prevention and screening for depression and alcohol use, Healthy People 2010 objectives continue to include goals to increase the detection of depression and decrease the rates of alcohol abuse. These problems remain significant. The overall goal of this study was to develop a computer-based electronic screening (eScreening) tool and determine the feasibility of implementing computer-based eScreening technology for rural visitors to a primary care clinic.

The effectiveness of advanced practice registered nurses as psychotherapists.

This article explores the effectiveness of advanced practice registered nurses as psychotherapists. Psychiatric/mental health (PMH) clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) possess the training, skills, and abilities necessary to provide effective psychotherapy. A case study is examined involving a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who underwent psychotherapy by a PMH CNS graduate student.

Web technology for persons with serious mental illness.

Based on preliminary studies using staff focus groups and consumer interviews, a web-based homepage portal was developed for use by staff and consumers in community mental health clinics. Standard user-testing methods were used to interview and observe participants who were discharge-ready from a state psychiatric facility. As the participants navigated the portal, they "talked aloud" and were presented scenarios to gain their opinions about design and content.

Early childhood mental health: services that can save a life.

The Give a Kid a Chance Omnibus Mental Health Services Act of 2003 (H.R.81) is a worthwhile proposal that endorses mental health services for children, adolescents, and their families.

Technology and rural mental health.

In addition to the specific and pervasive rural issues of isolation and suitability of services, the rural mental health system faces many of the same problems as the health system in general: access and increasing costs. The introduction of technology adds the unknown dimensions of acceptability and feasibility. Technology has the potential to decrease the gap in services and improve education, support, and connectedness between the client and the provider.