Let’s talk about child mental health? A study of the impact of specialized child mental health training for primary care physicians and technicians
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v38i6.13096Keywords:
Child mental health, Articulation, Prevention, Child and adolescent psychiatry, General and familiar medicineAbstract
Introduction: Intervention in mental health in childhood and adolescence should be a priority, considering the high prevalence of mental disorders in childhood and adolescence associated with a high rate of comorbidity and the frequent continuity of severe psychopathology in adulthood. The literature highlights the importance of decentralizing child mental health care, promoting community-based intervention, and an interface between specialized services and primary health care.
Methods: Conducting specialized training in child mental health, aimed at primary care physicians and technicians. Participants, at the beginning and end of the course, answered a 22-question questionnaire prepared by the scientific committee. The results were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-squared test.
Results: Out of a total of 120 participants, 109 questionnaires were completed at the beginning (90% of participants), and 97 questionnaires were completed at the end of the training course (81% of participants). The score of the global initial and final questionnaires was statistically significant (p-value <0.05, 95% confidence interval), with the average of correct answers from the initial questionnaires being 75.15% and the final questionnaires of 86.40%. In 15 of the 22 questions, a statistically significant difference was obtained.
Discussion and Conclusion: Considering the results, it is possible to recognize the significant impact that this training seems to have had in the acquisition of new knowledge in child mental health. Primary health care teams are privileged areas for articulation, with the potential to promote prevention and mental health promotion strategies, identify problems early, intervene in less severe cases and refer to specialized services in a timely manner.
Downloads
References
Xavier M, Paixão I, Mateus P, Goldschmidt T, Pires P, Narigão M, et al. Relatório da avaliação do Plano Nacional de Saúde Mental 2007-2016 e propostas prioritárias para a extensão a 2020 [Internet]. Lisboa: Comissão Técnica de Acompanhamento da Reforma de Saúde Mental; 2017. Available from: https://www.sns.gov.pt/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/RelAvPNSM2017.pdf
World Health Organization. The World health report 2001 – Mental health: new understanding, new hope [homepage]. Geneva: WHO; 2001. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42390
Coordenação Nacional para a Saúde Mental. Plano nacional de saúde mental 2007-2016: resumo executivo [Internet]. Lisboa: CNSM; 2008. Available from: https://www.adeb.pt/files/upload/paginas/Plano%20Nacional%20de%20Saude%20Mental.pdf
Programa Nacional para a Saúde Mental. Saúde mental em números – 2015. Lisboa: Direção-Geral da Saúde; 2016.
World Health Organization. Mental health action plan 2013-2020 [homepage]. Geneva: WHO; 2013. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241506021
Programa Nacional para a Saúde Mental. Programa nacional de saúde mental 2017. Lisboa: Direção-Geral da Saúde; 2017.
Fernandes L, Basílio N, Figueira S, Nunes JM. Saúde mental em medicina geral familiar: obstáculos e expectativas percecionados pelos médicos de família [Mental health in general family medicine: obstacles and expectations perceived by family physicians]. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2017;22(3):797-805. Portuguese
Rebelo MF, Gonçalves MJ, Bolina FM. A 3ª face da Lua: saúde mental em cuidados de saúde primários. 2ª ed. Loures: Lusodidacta; 2015. ISBN 9789898075376
World Health Organization, World Organization of Family Doctors. Integrating mental health into primary care: a global perspective [homepage]. Geneva: WHO; 2008. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/43935
eLearning for Healthcare. Mental health awareness for GPs: an e-learning resource [homepage]. Available from: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/mental-health-awareness-for-gps/
Marques C. Rede de cuidados de saúde mental infantil e juvenil: ligação com os cuidados de saúde primários, educação, comunidade, justiça e psiquiatria. In: Monteiro P, editor. Psicopatologia e psiquiatria da infância e adolescência. Lisboa: LIDEL; 2014. p. 551-61. ISBN 9789897520372
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.
The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.
