Predictors of community mental health nursing services use in Switzerland: Results from a representative national survey

Community mental health services are the service of choice in the mental health
field. In recent years, demand for these services has increased significantly. Nurses play a central
role in community mental health services. Nevertheless, predictive factors of the use of such
services are unclear, especially in Switzerland. This study aimed to examine relevant predictors of
persons with mental health problems’ use of community mental health nursing services in
Switzerland. Swiss Health Survey 2017 data were used to compare those who use community
mental health nursing services with those who do not. We found that age, number of doctor visits,
problems with instrumental activities of daily life, use of informal help, use of emergency services,
taking psychotropic medication, being female, and living without a partner were positive
predictors, while experiencing severe physical symptoms was a negative predictor. Several of our
findings confirm the similarity between the utilization of community mental health nursing
services and the use of community mental health services in general. Our results suggest that
community mental health nursing services deserve the same prominent place in the mental health
system and its corresponding policies. This should be taken as an argument for policy
development and better reimbursement. In research, health surveys should focus on nursing and
need-related questions. Additionally, it is necessary to develop community mental health nursing
services from an add-on service into independent nursing services and evaluate these services.