Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Int J Ment Health Syst. 2012 Sep 21;6(1):21. doi: 10.1186/1752-4458-6-21.
Specialist mental health care is out of reach for most Indians. The World Health Organisation has called for the integration of mental health into primary health care as a key strategy in closing the treatment gap. However, few studies in India have examined medical practitioners' mental health-related knowledge and attitudes. This study examined these facets of service provision amongst doctors providing primary health care in a rural area of Karnataka is Southern India.
A mental health knowledge and attitudes questionnaire was self- administered by participants. The questionnaire consisted of four sections; 1) basic demographics and practice information, 2) training in mental health, 3) knowledge of mental health, and self-perceived competence in providing mental health care, and 4) attitudes towards mental health. Data was analysed quantitatively, primarily using descriptive statistics.
This study recruited 46 participants. The majority of participants (69.6%) felt competent in providing mental health services to their patients. However, there was a substantial level of endorsement for several statements that reflected negative attitudes. Almost one third of participants (28.0%) had not received any training in providing mental health care. Whilst three-quarters of participants correctly identified depression (76.1%) and psychosis (76.1%) in a vignette, fewer were able to name three common signs and symptoms of depression (50.0%) and psychosis (28.3%).
Integrating mental health into primary health care requires evidence-based up-skilling programs. Doctors in this study desired such training and would benefit from it, with a focus on both depth of knowledge and uncovering stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental health problems.
专业的精神卫生保健对大多数印度人来说遥不可及。世界卫生组织呼吁将精神卫生纳入初级卫生保健，作为缩小治疗差距的关键策略。然而，印度很少有研究检查医疗从业者的精神健康相关知识和态度。本研究在印度南部卡纳塔克邦的一个农村地区，调查了初级卫生保健医生在这些方面的服务提供情况。
参与者自行填写了一份精神健康知识和态度问卷。问卷由四个部分组成：1）基本人口统计学和实践信息，2）精神卫生培训，3）精神卫生知识，以及自我感知提供精神卫生保健的能力，以及 4）对精神卫生的态度。数据主要使用描述性统计进行定量分析。
本研究招募了 46 名参与者。大多数参与者（69.6%）认为自己有能力为患者提供精神卫生服务。然而，有相当一部分人对反映负面态度的说法表示赞同。近三分之一的参与者（28.0%）没有接受过任何提供精神卫生保健的培训。尽管 76.1%的参与者正确识别了一个病例中的抑郁和精神病，而能说出三种常见的抑郁和精神病症状的人较少（50.0%和 28.3%）。
将精神卫生纳入初级卫生保健需要基于证据的技能提升计划。本研究中的医生渴望接受这种培训，并将从中受益，培训重点是知识的深度和消除对有精神健康问题的人的污名化态度。
