see below

6

DRAFT SUPPORT

Ramona Wilkerson

Herzing University

October 30, 2023

Introduction

The need to treat behavioral health and mental health concerns inside a hospital's medical/surgical unit is becoming more widely acknowledged in the healthcare industry. It is impossible to overstate the influence that mental illness, anxiety, and depression have on hospitalized patients' health, efficacy of therapy, and standard of care. Healthcare practitioners must take into account the whole well-being of their patients, including their mental health, as medical and surgical treatments grow more sophisticated, and patients must endure longer hospital stays. The purpose of this literature support study is to examine and evaluate the body of research on the incidence, consequences, and effective management of mental distress, anxiety, and depression in hospitalized medical-surgical inpatients.

1. Literature about the Type of Practice

Because of the significant differences between the hospital and community settings, there is cause for worry over the frequency of mental distress among adult medical-surgical inpatients. In order to determine the prevalence of mental distress and the characteristics that are linked with it among inpatients in public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tesfa et al. (2021) carried out cross-sectional research in 2020. Their research showed that mental anguish is a common problem in hospital settings and that it may have a detrimental impact on patients' general well-being and state of health.

Additionally, Sveinsdóttir et al. (2020) carried out research with a surgical patient emphasis. The incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms in surgical patients was investigated in this prospective, exploratory two-site follow-up research at three different time points: in the hospital, six weeks after surgery, and six months after discharge. A comprehensive strategy to addressing moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression in the hospital environment is crucial, since the research revealed a significant number of patients having these conditions at various points in time.

2. Literature about Quality Improvement

In the context of treating mental health in a hospital's medical/surgical unit, quality improvement is essential. It is essential to implement efficacious therapies and techniques to guarantee optimal patient care, including mental well-being. In order to investigate the impact of nighttime care routine interactions (NCRIs) on patients' daytime tiredness and efficacy of sleep, Casida et al. (2018) carried out a research on cardiac surgery critical-care and progressive-care units. Even while the study's primary emphasis is on sleep, it also emphasizes how crucial it is to provide patients a comfortable and encouraging atmosphere since doing so will improve their mental health results.

3. Literature about the Population

Adult hospitalized medical-surgical inpatients are the demographic of interest in this setting. These patients are susceptible to emotional discomfort, anxiety, and depression since they often deal with a variety of medical conditions and endure different surgical operations. According to research by Sveinsdóttir et al. (2020), surgical patients are susceptible to anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly during the recovery phase. It is vital to comprehend the distinct requirements and susceptibilities of this demographic in order to provide customized treatments and assistance.

4. Literature about the Problem

The issue at stake is how common mental illness, anxiety, and depression are among hospitalized medical-surgical inpatients, as well as the contributing variables. The way that patients' health turns out, both physically and generally, may be greatly impacted by mental suffering. According to research by Tesfa et al. (2021), mental anguish is a prevalent problem in hospital settings. In addition to having an impact on the patients, this condition puts more of a strain on medical professionals who must deal with it while providing surgical and medical treatment.

5. Literature about Intervening with or Addressing the Problem

The use of problem-addressing treatments and techniques is crucial for the proper management of mental health concerns within the medical/surgical unit. Sveinsdóttir et al. (2020) found that having uncomfortable postoperative symptoms and not feeling rested upon waking were the biggest predictors of anxiety and depression in surgical patients. Healthcare professionals may use this information to help them create focused therapies to address these problems, such bettering the quality of sleep and successfully controlling upsetting sensations.

Casida et al. (2018) emphasized how critical it is to comprehend how interactions between nighttime care routines affect sleep and related consequences. With this information, healthcare professionals may adjust treatment regimens to be more patient-centered and conducive to relaxation and sleep. Consequently, this might have a favorable effect on hospital patients' mental health.

Conclusion

In summary, a crucial component of patient care in a hospital's medical/surgical unit is the treatment of behavioral health and mental health. Understanding the frequency of mental discomfort, anxiety, and depression among hospitalized medical-surgical inpatients as well as the variables influencing these problems has been made possible by the literature review. It is clear that these issues have the potential to have a substantial impact on patients' general health as well as how they react to medical and surgical interventions.

Healthcare professionals need to think about customized treatments and quality improvement programs to address these issues. It's critical to comprehend the particular requirements and weaknesses of the patient group. The research covered in this study highlights the significance of controlling upsetting symptoms, enhancing sleep quality, and establishing a safe and relaxing atmosphere. Better results for patients' mental health in the hospital environment may result from an all-encompassing approach to patient care.

All things considered, this evaluation of the literature lays the groundwork for future studies and the creation of evidence-based procedures to efficiently manage mental and behavioral health in a hospital's medical/surgical unit. Healthcare professionals may improve the general standard of treatment and patients' well-being by addressing these problems.

References

Casida, J. M., Davis, J. E., Zalewski, A., & Yang, J. J. (2018). Night‐time care routine interaction and sleep disruption in adult cardiac surgery. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(7–8). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14262

Sveinsdóttir, H., Zoëga, S., Ingadóttir, B., & Blöndal, K. (2020). Symptoms of anxiety and depression in surgical patients at the hospital, 6 weeks and 6 Months post-surgery: A questionnaire study. Nursing Open, 8(1), 210–223. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.620

Tesfa, S., Giru, B. W., Bedada, T., & Gela, D. (2021). Mental distress and associated factors among hospitalized medical-surgical adult inpatients in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020: Cross-sectional study. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, Volume 14, 1235–1243. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s319634