Awareness And Use Of Telephone-Based Behaviour Change Support Services Among Clients Of A Community Mental Health Service

Objective: To determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, awareness and use of telephone-based behaviour change support services among clients of a community mental health service.Methods: Adult clients (n=375) of one Australian community mental health service completed a telephone interview and self-reported not meeting Australian National Guidelines for smoking, nutrition, alcohol consumption and/or physical activity. Descriptive statistics summarised awareness and use of the New South Wales Quitline (R) and Get Healthy Service (R) for participants with lifestyle risk factors addressed by each service. Chi-squares and logistic regressions explored associations between client characteristics, and service awareness and use.Results: Awareness (16.1%) and use (1.9%) of the Get Healthy Service was lower than that of Quitline (89.1%; 18.1%). Television was the most common source of awareness (39.7% Get Healthy Service; 74.0% Quitline). In the regression models, persons in a relationship were more likely to have heard of the Get Healthy Service (OR:2.19, CI:1.15-4.18), and persons aged 36-50 were more likely to have used the Quitline (OR:5.22, CI:1.17-23.37).Conclusions: Opportunities exist for increasing awareness and use of both services, particularly the Get Healthy Service, among clients of community mental health services.Implications for public health: Strategies to optimise reach for this population group are recommended.