scholarly journals Self-perceived competencies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders among general practitioners in Lima, Peru

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Hanae Zafra-Tanaka ◽  
Kevin Pacheco-Barrios ◽  
Fiorella Inga-Berrospi ◽  
Alvaro Taype-Rondan

Abstract Aim To assess the self-perceived competencies in diagnosing and treating patients with mental health disorders, among recently graduated general practitioners (GPs) from Lima, Peru. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in April 2017 at a General Practitioner’s meeting held for those who were going to perform the social service, by the Peruvian College of Physicians in Lima. Attendees were invited to answer a questionnaire that evaluated their self-perception of competence in diagnosing and treating four different mental health disorders; major depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol dependence, and schizophrenia. Results Out of 434 evaluated GPs, the following percentages were self-perceived as competent in their adequate diagnosis of depression (70.5%), anxiety (73.3%), alcohol dependence (67.6%), and schizophrenia (62.0%). Concerning pharmacological treatment, these percentages were 46.6, 47.5, 39.0 and 37.6%, respectively. Referring to all the studied mental disorders, 41.6% of participants self-perceived competence in providing an adequate diagnosis, 36.1% in providing non-pharmacological treatment, and 20.1% in providing pharmacological treatment. Conclusion The rate of adequate self-perceived competences was higher for diagnosis than for treatment of patients with mental health disorders. These results highlight the importance of designing and implementing interventions to improve medical education so as to develop the skills necessary to confront mental health disorders.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Sangeeta Roop Kaur Despande ◽  
Irma Wati binti Ngadimon ◽  
Nor Liana Che Yaacob

The number of mental health problems among the young people in Malaysia is increasing, and this is worrying. Prompt action is needed as the young generation especially university students are the future leaders of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the level of stigma and attitudes of university students towards mental health disorders since limited study regarding this issue conducted in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study design whereby 496 students from MAHSA University were asked to complete a pre-validated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three main sections which were demographic, measures of knowledge and attitudes of respondents towards mental health disorders. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between knowledge score of the different age groups, ethnicity, faculty and current education level of respondents. Besides that, significant differences were reported between attitude score of the different age groups, faculty and current education level of the respondents. It was also found that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between mental health knowledge and attitudes towards mental health disorders. Overall, the respondents displayed good knowledge and attitude towards mental health disorders.


2020 ◽  
pp. 135910452097245
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Leff ◽  
Erika Setzer ◽  
Mark X Cicero ◽  
Marc Auerbach

Background: Limited early results indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. Pediatric emergency departments (PED) play a pivotal role in the identification, treatment, and coordination of care for children with mental health disorders, however, there is a dearth of literature evaluating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care provision in the PED. Objectives: We sought to evaluate whether changes in frequency or patient demographics among children and adolescents presenting to the PED has occurred. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital (YNHCH) PED. Data representing the early COVID-19 pandemic period was abstracted from the electronic medical record and compared using descriptive statistics to the same time period the year prior. Patient demographics including patient gender, ED disposition, mode of arrival, race-ethnicity, and insurance status were assessed. Results: During the pandemic period, 148 patients presented to the YNHCH PED with mental health-related diagnoses, compared to 378 in the pre-pandemic period, a reduction of 60.84%. Compared to white children, black children were 0.55 less likely to present with a mental health condition as compared to the pre-pandemic study period ( p = 0.002; 95% CI 0.36–0.85). Conclusions: Children with mental and behavioral health disorders who seek care in PEDs may be at risk for delayed presentations of mental health disorders. African American children may be a particularly vulnerable population to screen for mental health disorders as reopening procedures are initiated and warrants further study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237796082110643
Author(s):  
Zebene M. Assefa ◽  
Tariku G. Haile ◽  
Deribachew H. Wazema ◽  
Wubishet T. Tafese ◽  
Fantahun W. Berrie ◽  
...  

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, at the end of 2019. The COVID-19 incidence of new cases and fatality has continued to fast-track. The mental state and well-being of entire societies are severely suffering from this crisis and are a precedence to be immediately addressed. Objective To assess mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic among university students, Southwest, Ethiopia, 2020/2021. Method Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Pretested self-administered a structured questionnaire was used. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured by depression, anxiety, stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Data were arrived by Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied. In multivariate logistic regression; p-value < .05 at 95% CI was declared as significant. Results Seven hundred ten university students with 95.6% of the response rate participated in the study. Of the participants, 91.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24 years, and 57.2% were male. The magnitude of anxiety, depression, and stress was 35.1%, 30.0%, and 38.2%, respectively. In this study, age [Formula: see text] 25years, easy access to handwashing facilities, relative death due to COVID-19, wearing a face mask, a program of education, marital status, worried about academic activities, and family psychiatric history were predictors for mental health disorders and insomnia was a predictor of both anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion In this study, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was above one-third, which was higher than the previous studies done in the country. Therefore, the continuing increase in new cases of disease infectivity and fatality throughout the country, providing psychological counseling, and developing coping strategies to predictors are important to prevent mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Majery ◽  
Jemima Wangata Shadi ◽  
Paula Camelia Trandafir

Abstract BackgroundIn the literature, an increase in precarious work in Luxembourg as well as in other countries, has been associated to poor health. Therefore, the Occupational Health Physicians of the “Service de Santé au Travail Multisectoriel” (STM), considering the comfortable financial situation during unemployment in Luxembourg, compared the health and lifestyle data of precarious workers to those with stable work.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 1472 workers (910 in stable and 562 in precarious work), who were examined at the STM in 2019. Lifestyle and health were self-reported by the workers. The qualitative variables (frequencies and percentage) related to demographic, health, lifestyle and employment factors were analyzed in each group. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compare both groups and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the associations between health issues (cardiovascular, mental health, musculoskeletal disorders [MSD]) and employment contract type. ResultsRegarding lifestyle, there were significant differences in age, tobacco smoking, type of work, and mental health disorders between the two groups. Precarious workers had a higher prevalence of poor health in the entire sample. As for mental health disorders, the prevalence was significantly higher in precarious than in stable work (8.5% vs 4.1%, p<0.0001). The difference was not significant in both groups for cardiovascular (6.9% vs 5.8%) and musculoskeletal (15.1% vs 13.7%) disorders. Multivariate logistic regression for the total sample revealed a positive association of precarious work and poor health. The odds ratios were 2.36 (CI: 1.50-3.73) for mental health 1.37 (CI: 0.87-2.17) for cardiovascular, and 1.04 (CI: 0.76-1.43) for musculoskeletal disorders. The association was significant only for mental health disorders. The results by gender showed up a higher risk for mental disorders for women in precarious work (OR=3.41, CI: 1.43-7.82) than for men (OR= 2.99, CI: 1.33-6.74). Men in precarious work had a positive association for cardio-vascular disorders (OR =1.84, CI: 1.03-3.29), and women a negative one (OR= 0.88, CI: 0.40-1.95).ConclusionsOur study revealed an association between precarious work and poor health. For mental health, this association was significant for both genders, but particularly so for women. Cardiovascular disorders were positively significantly associated only for men.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Tester-Jones ◽  
Mathew P. White ◽  
Lewis R. Elliott ◽  
Netta Weinstein ◽  
James Grellier ◽  
...  

Abstract Exposure to natural environments is associated with a lower risk of common mental health disorders (CMDs), such as depression and anxiety, but we know little about nature-related motivations, practices and experiences of those already experiencing CMDs. We used data from an 18-country survey to explore these issues (n = 18,838), taking self-reported doctor-prescribed medication for depression and/or anxiety as an indicator of a CMD (n = 2698, 14%). Intrinsic motivation for visiting nature was high for all, though slightly lower for those with CMDs. Most individuals with a CMD reported visiting nature ≥ once a week. Although perceived social pressure to visit nature was associated with higher visit likelihood, it was also associated with lower intrinsic motivation, lower visit happiness and higher visit anxiety. Individuals with CMDs seem to be using nature for self-management, but ‘green prescription’ programmes need to be sensitive, and avoid undermining intrinsic motivation and nature-based experiences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Amara ◽  
R Ghammem ◽  
J Sahli ◽  
D Alouani ◽  
F Dziri ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Adolescence is a period of significant and rapid development, marked by the growing influence of peers, individual behavioral choices and increased risk taking, including addictive behaviors. Furthermore, association between these behaviors and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, has been demonstrated in literature. In accordance with this need, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of addictive behaviors and screen for mental disorders among adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross sectional study in Enfidha (a town in the Sousse governorate; Tunisia). The setting of the study was in high and middle schools. Data collection was done during January and February 2020. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used in this aim. It included socio-demographic characteristics, screening for mental health problems and addictive behaviors (self-esteem, depression, anxiety, facebook addiction and video game addiction). The scales are self-report validated instruments. Results We included 1195 participants with a median age of 14 years (IQR 13-16). Females represented 54.2 % of the sample. Concerning depression and anxiety, it was reported among 71.3%, 62.4% of participants, respectively. We noted that self-esteem was low among 49.5% of respondents. The pooled prevalence of internet gaming disorder and Facebook addiction was 37.4% and 32.3%, respectively. Our finding yield that girls were more prone to be Facebook addict. Meanwhile, internet gaming disorder was more common among boys. Regarding tobacco and alcohol use, it was reported among 16.7% and 3.2% of students, respectively. Our results pointed out that illicit substances' experimentation was disclosed among 2.1% of our sample. Conclusions Our study is one of rare and recent research in our country interesting the striking issue of addiction and mental health disorders among adolescents. Key messages Tobacco and alcohol use was reported among 16.7% and 3.2% of students. Illicit substances’ experimentation was disclosed among 2.1% of our sample.


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