Kajikawa Natsuki, Yokoya Shoji, Ozone Sachiko
Department of Family Medicine, General Practice and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine University of Tsukuba Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan.
Kitaibaraki Center for Family Medicine Kitaibaraki Ibaraki Japan.
J Gen Fam Med. 2024 Sep 16;26(1):37-44. doi: 10.1002/jgf2.731. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Family physicians (FPs) are expected to identify, diagnose, and treat mental health problems. Despite challenges such as limited time and low confidence in their skill as mental health providers, FPs generally consider mental health as a meaningful part of their profession. However, the role of the FP in mental health services is not clearly established in Japan. Studies have not been performed in countries without an established role of FPs' in mental health care. This study investigated Japanese FP's attitudes, difficulties, and perceived significance in managing mental health problems.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted between September 2022 and February 2023. Participants were Japanese FPs involved in mental health care. Interview transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis.
Thirteen FPs were interviewed. The FPs approached mental health problems "as a FP who provides holistic and comprehensive care" and "practice based on experience and self-reflection." The difficulties faced by FPs included "time management problems" and "referral management problems and conflicts." Regarding significance, FPs mentioned that "gaining a deeper understanding of humanity" is important for managing mental health problems.
The attitude of Japanese FPs toward mental health care was based on awareness of the FP's specialty. Despite difficulties such as time and referral management issues, managing mental health problems was generally considered rewarding for professional growth.
家庭医生（FPs）需要识别、诊断和治疗心理健康问题。尽管存在时间有限以及作为心理健康服务提供者对自身技能信心不足等挑战，但家庭医生通常认为心理健康是其职业的重要组成部分。然而，在日本，家庭医生在心理健康服务中的角色尚未明确确立。在家庭医生在心理健康护理中角色未确立的国家尚未开展相关研究。本研究调查了日本家庭医生在管理心理健康问题时的态度、困难及感知到的重要性。
在2022年9月至2023年2月期间进行了半结构化访谈。参与者为参与心理健康护理的日本家庭医生。对访谈记录进行了主题分析。
采访了13位家庭医生。这些家庭医生将心理健康问题视为“提供全面综合护理的家庭医生”，并“基于经验和自我反思进行实践”。家庭医生面临的困难包括“时间管理问题”以及“转诊管理问题和冲突”。关于重要性，家庭医生提到“更深入地理解人性”对管理心理健康问题很重要。
日本家庭医生对心理健康护理的态度基于对家庭医生专业的认知。尽管存在时间和转诊管理等问题，但管理心理健康问题总体上被认为对职业成长有意义。
