Preventive care for physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption: a cross-sectional survey of family carer expectations of health service delivery for people with a mental health condition

Background: Chronic disease is a leading cause of death globally, where inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption and inadequate physical activity are consistently implicated as key contributing risk factors. People with a mental health condition are reported to experience a higher prevalence of such risks and experience increased morbidity and mortality from resultant chronic disease. Despite guidelines identifying a need for services accessed by people with a mental health condition to provide care to address such health risk behaviours, sub-optimal care is frequently reported suggesting a need for innovative strategies to increase the provision of physical health care. An exploratory study was conducted to examine: 1) family carers’ expectations of care provision regarding fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity by health and community services for people with a mental health condition; 2) carer’s own health risk behaviour status and perceptions of the influence of the health risk behaviours on mental health; and 3) possible associations of socio-demographic, clinical and attitudinal factors with carer expectations of care provision for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity. Methods: Family carers of people with a mental health condition completed a cross sectional survey. Participants were members of a mental health carer support organisation from New South Wales, Australia. Results: A high proportion of participants (n=144 total, 38.8% response rate) believed care for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity respectively should be provided by: mental health hospitals (78.5%, 82.7%); community mental health services (76.7%, 85.9%); general practice (81.1%, 79.2%); and non-government organisations (56.2%, 65.4%). Most participants perceived that adequate fruit and vegetable consumption (55.9%), and physical activity (71.3%) would have a very positive impact on mental health. Carers who perceived adequate fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity would have a positive impact on mental health were more likely to expect care for such behaviours from some services. Conclusions: The majority of participants expected care for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity be provided by all services catering for people with a mental health condition. Findings reinforce the appropriateness for such services to provide physical health care for clients in a systematic manner.