Perception of family doctors on the approach to mental health in appointments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v40i5.13943Keywords:
Mental health, Family physician, Primary health careAbstract
Introduction: Mental disorders are one of the main causes of inability to work in Portugal and of seeking appointments in primary health care, with a great majority of these patients being monitored exclusively by their family doctor.
Objectives: Evaluate training in mental health, the degree of importance given to mental health, and family doctors’ ability to address it in appointment.
Method: Observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. An original questionnaire, exploring socio-professional data, training in mental health, and approach to mental health in appointment. The present study had a favorable opinion from the ARS Centro Ethics Committee. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS®.
Results: Four hundred and forty-nine family physicians from different regions of the country, 75.3% female and 76% specialists. There was a reduced training rate (45%). Most of the sample considers that quality training exists but is scarce. Generally, physicians give importance to the mental health approach. However, those with more experience and training in mental health are more confident in their approach.
Conclusion: In the present study, there is a reduced rate of family doctors with specific training in mental health, with those who do, reporting greater confidence and having more knowledge in psychiatric pathology. Therefore, the need to increase the availability of training for family doctors becomes evident to improve the approach to mental health in primary care.
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