Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study
Abstract Background Although the need for integration of mental health services into primary care is well established little has been done. The outbreak of the recession found the Greek mental health system in transition. As a response to the crisis, governments implemented horizontal budget cuts in...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0172-0 |
| _version_ | 1818701382702596096 |
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| author | Kyriakos Souliotis Eirini Agapidaki Chara Tzavara Marina Economou |
| author_facet | Kyriakos Souliotis Eirini Agapidaki Chara Tzavara Marina Economou |
| author_sort | Kyriakos Souliotis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although the need for integration of mental health services into primary care is well established little has been done. The outbreak of the recession found the Greek mental health system in transition. As a response to the crisis, governments implemented horizontal budget cuts instead of health reforms. This resulted in an unfavorable situation for mental health which was set once again on the sidelines of the health policy agenda. Previous studies suggest that the most prevalent disorders in the years of financial crisis in Greece are depression and anxiety while a general increase of the psychiatric morbidity is observed does not follow the population’ needs. Methods The present descriptive study was carried out between March and June of 2015. A convenience sample of 174 psychiatrists and psychiatry residents who met the inclusion criteria were finally selected to participate. Data were collected by using a 40-items questionnaire consisted of three sections: (a) nine questions about demographics, (b) nine questions pertaining to general aspects of administrative regulations related to primary care, (c) 22 questions about psychiatrists attitudes and perceptions towards their role in primary care. Quantitative variables are expressed as mean values, while qualitative variables as absolute and relative frequencies. Results The vast majority of participants perceives the public primary care services and mental health services in their community as inadequate and considers psychiatrists’ participation in primary care as important in order to improve the detection and management rates of people demonstrating mental health symptoms. They also believe that: (a) primary care practitioners’ usually fail to detect the mental health conditions of patients; (b) their participation in primary care will decrease the social stigmatization for mental health conditions; (c) patients receiving pharmaceutical treatment for mental health problems by GPs and other primary care professionals usually fail to comply. Conclusions Respondents in the present study are receptive to participate in primary care. They believe that their inclusion to primary care will result to decreased social stigmatization for mental health problems, increased patient’ access and improved detection and management rates for common mental health conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T15:19:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d520fa198131487681762bb1540784b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T15:19:57Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-d520fa198131487681762bb1540784b02022-12-21T21:43:26ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582017-10-0111111010.1186/s13033-017-0172-0Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative studyKyriakos Souliotis0Eirini Agapidaki1Chara Tzavara2Marina Economou3Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Social and Education Policy, University of PeloponneseHealth Policy InstituteHealth Policy InstituteUniversity Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI)Abstract Background Although the need for integration of mental health services into primary care is well established little has been done. The outbreak of the recession found the Greek mental health system in transition. As a response to the crisis, governments implemented horizontal budget cuts instead of health reforms. This resulted in an unfavorable situation for mental health which was set once again on the sidelines of the health policy agenda. Previous studies suggest that the most prevalent disorders in the years of financial crisis in Greece are depression and anxiety while a general increase of the psychiatric morbidity is observed does not follow the population’ needs. Methods The present descriptive study was carried out between March and June of 2015. A convenience sample of 174 psychiatrists and psychiatry residents who met the inclusion criteria were finally selected to participate. Data were collected by using a 40-items questionnaire consisted of three sections: (a) nine questions about demographics, (b) nine questions pertaining to general aspects of administrative regulations related to primary care, (c) 22 questions about psychiatrists attitudes and perceptions towards their role in primary care. Quantitative variables are expressed as mean values, while qualitative variables as absolute and relative frequencies. Results The vast majority of participants perceives the public primary care services and mental health services in their community as inadequate and considers psychiatrists’ participation in primary care as important in order to improve the detection and management rates of people demonstrating mental health symptoms. They also believe that: (a) primary care practitioners’ usually fail to detect the mental health conditions of patients; (b) their participation in primary care will decrease the social stigmatization for mental health conditions; (c) patients receiving pharmaceutical treatment for mental health problems by GPs and other primary care professionals usually fail to comply. Conclusions Respondents in the present study are receptive to participate in primary care. They believe that their inclusion to primary care will result to decreased social stigmatization for mental health problems, increased patient’ access and improved detection and management rates for common mental health conditions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0172-0Mental healthPrimary healthcareIntegrationPsychiatrists |
| spellingShingle | Kyriakos Souliotis Eirini Agapidaki Chara Tzavara Marina Economou Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study International Journal of Mental Health Systems Mental health Primary healthcare Integration Psychiatrists |
| title | Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study |
| title_full | Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study |
| title_fullStr | Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study |
| title_short | Psychiatrists role in primary health care in Greece: findings from a quantitative study |
| title_sort | psychiatrists role in primary health care in greece findings from a quantitative study |
| topic | Mental health Primary healthcare Integration Psychiatrists |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0172-0 |
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