Patient Attitudes and Perceived Barriers Toward Mental Health Treatment Options in a Rural Student-Run Clinic.

Background While the prevalence of mental health conditions is similar in rural areas and non-rural areas, access to mental health care is more limited in rural areas. Patient attitudes toward specific mental health treatment options in rural populations have been understudied. Some previous studies indicate potential positive outcomes using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as an adjunct for mental health care. Physicians using OMT are more heavily represented in rural areas. Hence, understanding the mental health treatment needs and option preferences of the rural could inform policies that increase underserved population's access to various mental health treatment modalities including OMT. This study aims to characterize patient attitudes toward, beliefs regarding, and perceived barriers to treatment options for mental health treatment, access, and care in a rural, underserved clinical setting. Methods Adult patients attending a single outpatient rural clinic over a four-month period in 2022 were screened for participation. The survey consisted of Likert scale graded questions about mental health treatment options, access, knowledge, and perceived barriers including qualitative questions about OMTs. Versions of the survey were created in English and Spanish languages. Results Out of 46 respondents, 25 were English-speaking and 21 were Spanish-speaking. The most popular mental health treatments by respondents were indicated as therapy, spiritual guidance, and modifying diet and exercise. Considering barriers to care, 61% of respondents indicated cost of treatment as a logistical barrier. Finally, 80.5% of respondents did not have a good understanding of OMT. Conclusions The knowledge and understanding of patients' perceived attitudes and barriers toward mental health care, inclusive of OMT, can provide insight to clinicians to improve patient outcomes and guide efforts in overcoming barriers to increase and expand mental health treatment availability and utilization by patients.