Improving kidney care for people with severe mental health difficulties: a thematic analysis of twenty-two healthcare providers' perspectives

• Published in: Frontiers in public health 2023-06, Vol.11, p.1225102-1225102
• Main Authors: Cogley, Clodagh, Carswell, Claire, Bramham, Jessica, Bramham, Kate, Smith, Aoife, Holian, John, Conlon, Peter, D'Alton, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: dialysis; health inequities; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Kidney; kidney disease; Mental Health; mental illness; Public Health; schizophrenia
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1225102

People with severe mental health difficulties (SMHDs) and concurrent kidney disease have less access to quality kidney care and worse clinical outcomes. Our research investigates the barriers and facilitators to effective kidney care for people with SMHDs, and how care might be improved for this underserved population. We conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-two physical (  = 14) and mental (  = 8) healthcare professionals with experience working with people with SMHDs and concurrent kidney disease. Interview data were analysed and interpreted using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were generated from the data: 1. describes how some people with SMHDs need additional support when accessing kidney care due to challenges with their mental state, motivation, cognitive difficulties, or mistrust of the healthcare system. 2. " " describes how the separation of physical and mental healthcare, combined with under-resourcing and understaffing, results in poorer outcomes for people with SMHDs. 3. " " describes how many renal healthcare providers have limited confidence in their understanding of mental health and their ability to provide care for people with SMHDs. 4. " " describes how stigma towards people with SMHDs can negatively impact quality of care. Healthcare professionals accounts' describe how people with SMHDs and kidney disease can have favourable outcomes if they have appropriate hospital, community and social supports. Findings indicate that effective management of kidney disease for people with SMHDs requires integrated physical and mental health care, which takes an individualised "whole person" approach to addressing the interaction between kidney disease and mental health.