An initiative to improve mental health practice in primary care in Caribbean countries.

Objectives: The aim of this initiative was to assess whether a novel training program - Understanding Stigma and Strengthening Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills - could improve primary health care providers' confidence in the quality of mental health care they provide in the Caribbean setting by using the Plan-Do-Study-Act rapid cycle for learning improvement. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of the impact of this training program. The training was refined during three cycles: first, the relevance of the program for practice improvement in the Caribbean was assessed. Second, pilot training of 15 local providers was conducted to adapt the program to the culture and context. Third, the course was launched in fall 2021 with 96 primary care providers. Pre- and post-program outcomes were assessed by surveys, including providers' confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided, changes in stigma among the providers and their use of and comfort with the tools. This paper describes an evaluation of the results of cycle 3, the official launch. Results: A total of 81 participants completed the program. The program improved primary care providers' confidence in the quality of mental health care that they provided to people with lived experience of mental health disorders, and it reduced providers' stigmatization of people with mental health disorders. Conclusions: The program's quality improvement model achieved its goals in enhancing health care providers' confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided in the Caribbean context; the program provides effective tools to support the work and it helped to empower and engage clients.

An initiative to improve mental health practice in primary care in Caribbean countries

[ABSTRACT]. Objectives. The aim of this initiative was to assess whether a novel training program – Understanding Stigma and Strengthening Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills – could improve primary health care providers’ confidence in the quality of mental health care they provide in the Caribbean setting by using the Plan-Do- Study-Act rapid cycle for learning improvement. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of the impact of this training program. The training was refined during three cycles: first, the relevance of the program for practice improvement in the Caribbean was assessed. Second, pilot training of 15 local providers was conducted to adapt the program to the culture and context. Third, the course was launched in fall 2021 with 96 primary care providers. Pre- and post-program outcomes were assessed by surveys, including providers’ confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided, changes in stigma among the providers and their use of and comfort with the tools. This paper describes an evaluation of the results of cycle 3, the official launch. Results. A total of 81 participants completed the program. The program improved primary care providers’ confidence in the quality of mental health care that they provided to people with lived experience of mental health disorders, and it reduced providers’ stigmatization of people with mental health disorders. Conclusions. The program’s quality improvement model achieved its goals in enhancing health care provid- ers’ confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided in the Caribbean context; the program provides effective tools to support the work and it helped to empower and engage clients.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivos. La finalidad de esta iniciativa fue determinar si un nuevo programa de capacitación, titulado Under- standing Stigma and Strengthening Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills (Comprender la estigmatización y fortalecer las competencias interpersonales cognitivas y conductuales), podría mejorar la confianza de los prestadores de atención primaria de salud en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionan en los países del Caribe, mediante el uso del ciclo rápido Planificación-Realización-Estudio-Acción para la mejora del aprendizaje. Métodos. Realizamos un estudio de observación prospectivo sobre el impacto de este programa de capac- itación. La formación se perfeccionó a lo largo de tres ciclos: en primer lugar, se evaluó la pertinencia del programa para la mejora de las prácticas en el Caribe; en segundo lugar, se llevó a cabo una capacitación piloto de 15 prestadores locales para adaptar el programa a la cultura y el contexto; en tercer lugar, en el otoño del 2021 se puso en marcha el curso con 96 prestadores de atención primaria. Los resultados anteri- ores y posteriores al programa se evaluaron mediante encuestas que incluían la confianza de los prestadores en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionaban, los cambios aparecidos en los prestadores en cuanto a la estigmatización, y su uso y conocimiento de las herramientas. En este artículo se describe una evaluación de los resultados del ciclo 3, correspondiente a la puesta en marcha oficial. Resultados. Un total de 81 participantes completaron el programa. El programa mejoró la confianza de los prestadores de atención primaria en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionaban a las per- sonas que presentaban trastornos de la salud mental y redujo la estigmatización de las personas con este tipo de trastornos por parte de los prestadores de la atención. Conclusiones. El modelo de mejora de la calidad del programa logró sus objetivos en cuanto a mejorar la confianza de los prestadores de atención de salud en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que propor- cionan en los países del Caribe; el programa aporta herramientas eficaces para sustentar esta tarea y ayudó a empoderar e involucrar a las personas usuarias.

[RESUMO]. Objetivos. O objetivo da iniciativa foi avaliar se um novo programa de capacitação, Compreensão do estigma e fortalecimento das competências cognitivas e comportamentais interpessoais, seria capaz de aumentar a confiança dos profissionais de atenção primária à saúde na qualidade da atenção à saúde mental que ofere- cem a pacientes no Caribe, utilizando o ciclo rápido Plan-Do-Study-Act (planejar, fazer, avaliar e agir) para melhorar o aprendizado. Métodos. Este foi um estudo observacional prospectivo sobre o impacto desse programa de capacitação. A capacitação foi aperfeiçoada ao longo de três ciclos. Inicialmente, avaliou-se a relevância do programa para o aprimoramento da prática no Caribe. A seguir, foi realizada uma capacitação-piloto de 15 profissionais locais para adaptar o programa à cultura e ao contexto. No terceiro ciclo, realizado no outono de 2021, o curso foi lançado, com a participação de 96 profissionais de atenção primária. Os resultados antes e depois do programa foram avaliados por meio de questionários, que incluíam a confiança dos provedores na qualidade da atenção à saúde mental oferecida, mudanças no estigma entre os profissionais e a utilização das ferramentas e o conforto dos profissionais em usá-las. Este documento apresenta a avaliação dos resul- tados do ciclo 3, o lançamento oficial do curso. Resultados. Oitenta e um participantes completaram o programa. O programa melhorou a confiança dos profissionais de atenção primária na qualidade dos cuidados de saúde mental que ofereciam às pessoas com experiência vivida relacionada a problemas de saúde mental. Além disso, reduziu a estigmatização das pessoas com problemas de saúde mental pelos profissionais de saúde. Conclusão. O modelo de melhoria da qualidade do programa atingiu suas metas de aumentar a confiança dos prestadores de serviços de saúde na qualidade dos serviços de saúde mental que prestavam no Caribe; o programa fornece ferramentas efetivas de apoio ao trabalho e ajudou a empoderar e envolver os clientes.

An initiative to improve mental health practice in primary care in Caribbean countries / Una iniciativa para mejorar la práctica de la salud mental en la atención primaria en los países del Caribe / Uma iniciativa para melhorar a atenção primária em saúde mental nos países caribenhos

ABSTRACT Objectives. The aim of this initiative was to assess whether a novel training program - Understanding Stigma and Strengthening Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills - could improve primary health care providers' confidence in the quality of mental health care they provide in the Caribbean setting by using the Plan-Do-Study-Act rapid cycle for learning improvement. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of the impact of this training program. The training was refined during three cycles: first, the relevance of the program for practice improvement in the Caribbean was assessed. Second, pilot training of 15 local providers was conducted to adapt the program to the culture and context. Third, the course was launched in fall 2021 with 96 primary care providers. Pre- and post-program outcomes were assessed by surveys, including providers' confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided, changes in stigma among the providers and their use of and comfort with the tools. This paper describes an evaluation of the results of cycle 3, the official launch. Results. A total of 81 participants completed the program. The program improved primary care providers' confidence in the quality of mental health care that they provided to people with lived experience of mental health disorders, and it reduced providers' stigmatization of people with mental health disorders. Conclusions. The program's quality improvement model achieved its goals in enhancing health care providers' confidence in the quality of the mental health care they provided in the Caribbean context; the program provides effective tools to support the work and it helped to empower and engage clients.

RESUMEN Objetivos. La finalidad de esta iniciativa fue determinar si un nuevo programa de capacitación, titulado Understanding Stigma and Strengthening Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Skills (Comprender la estigmatización y fortalecer las competencias interpersonales cognitivas y conductuales), podría mejorar la confianza de los prestadores de atención primaria de salud en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionan en los países del Caribe, mediante el uso del ciclo rápido Planificación-Realización-Estudio-Acción para la mejora del aprendizaje. Métodos. Realizamos un estudio de observación prospectivo sobre el impacto de este programa de capacitación. La formación se perfeccionó a lo largo de tres ciclos: en primer lugar, se evaluó la pertinencia del programa para la mejora de las prácticas en el Caribe; en segundo lugar, se llevó a cabo una capacitación piloto de 15 prestadores locales para adaptar el programa a la cultura y el contexto; en tercer lugar, en el otoño del 2021 se puso en marcha el curso con 96 prestadores de atención primaria. Los resultados anteriores y posteriores al programa se evaluaron mediante encuestas que incluían la confianza de los prestadores en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionaban, los cambios aparecidos en los prestadores en cuanto a la estigmatización, y su uso y conocimiento de las herramientas. En este artículo se describe una evaluación de los resultados del ciclo 3, correspondiente a la puesta en marcha oficial. Resultados. Un total de 81 participantes completaron el programa. El programa mejoró la confianza de los prestadores de atención primaria en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionaban a las personas que presentaban trastornos de la salud mental y redujo la estigmatización de las personas con este tipo de trastornos por parte de los prestadores de la atención. Conclusiones. El modelo de mejora de la calidad del programa logró sus objetivos en cuanto a mejorar la confianza de los prestadores de atención de salud en la calidad de la atención de salud mental que proporcionan en los países del Caribe; el programa aporta herramientas eficaces para sustentar esta tarea y ayudó a empoderar e involucrar a las personas usuarias.

RESUMO Objetivos. O objetivo da iniciativa foi avaliar se um novo programa de capacitação, Compreensão do estigma e fortalecimento das competências cognitivas e comportamentais interpessoais, seria capaz de aumentar a confiança dos profissionais de atenção primária à saúde na qualidade da atenção à saúde mental que oferecem a pacientes no Caribe, utilizando o ciclo rápido Plan-Do-Study-Act (planejar, fazer, avaliar e agir) para melhorar o aprendizado. Métodos. Este foi um estudo observacional prospectivo sobre o impacto desse programa de capacitação. A capacitação foi aperfeiçoada ao longo de três ciclos. Inicialmente, avaliou-se a relevância do programa para o aprimoramento da prática no Caribe. A seguir, foi realizada uma capacitação-piloto de 15 profissionais locais para adaptar o programa à cultura e ao contexto. No terceiro ciclo, realizado no outono de 2021, o curso foi lançado, com a participação de 96 profissionais de atenção primária. Os resultados antes e depois do programa foram avaliados por meio de questionários, que incluíam a confiança dos provedores na qualidade da atenção à saúde mental oferecida, mudanças no estigma entre os profissionais e a utilização das ferramentas e o conforto dos profissionais em usá-las. Este documento apresenta a avaliação dos resultados do ciclo 3, o lançamento oficial do curso. Resultados. Oitenta e um participantes completaram o programa. O programa melhorou a confiança dos profissionais de atenção primária na qualidade dos cuidados de saúde mental que ofereciam às pessoas com experiência vivida relacionada a problemas de saúde mental. Além disso, reduziu a estigmatização das pessoas com problemas de saúde mental pelos profissionais de saúde. Conclusão. O modelo de melhoria da qualidade do programa atingiu suas metas de aumentar a confiança dos prestadores de serviços de saúde na qualidade dos serviços de saúde mental que prestavam no Caribe; o programa fornece ferramentas efetivas de apoio ao trabalho e ajudou a empoderar e envolver os clientes.

Screening for depression in women during pregnancy or the first year postpartum and in the general adult population: a protocol for two systematic reviews to update a guideline of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the World Health Organization reported that depression is the most common cause of disability worldwide, with over 300 million people currently living with depression. Depression affects an individual's physical health and well-being, impacts psychosocial functioning, and has specific negative short- and long-term effects on maternal health, child health, developmental trajectories, and family health. The aim of these reviews is to identify evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for depression in the general adult population and in pregnant and postpartum women. METHODS: Search strategies were developed and tested through an iterative process by an experienced medical information specialist in consultation with the review team. We will search MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library, and a randomized controlled trial filter will be used. The general adult review will be an update of a systematic review previously used by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care for their 2013 guideline recommendation. The search strategy will be updated and will start from the last search date of the previous review (May 2012). The pregnant and postpartum review will be a de novo review with no date restriction. For both reviews, we will search for unpublished documents following the CADTH Grey Matters checklist and relevant websites. Titles and abstracts will be screened using the liberal accelerated method. Two reviewers will independently screen full-text articles for relevance using pre-specified eligibility criteria and assess the risk of bias of included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Outcomes of interest for the general adult population review include symptoms of depression or diagnosis of major depressive disorder, health-related quality of life, day-to-day functionality, lost time at work/school, impact on lifestyle behaviour, suicidality, false-positive result, labelling/stigma, overdiagnosis or overtreatment, and harms of treatment. Outcomes of interest for the pregnant and postpartum review include mental health outcomes (e.g. diagnosis of major depressive disorder), parenting outcomes (e.g. mother-child interactions), and infant outcomes (e.g. infant health and development). DISCUSSION: These two systematic reviews will offer informative evaluations of depression screening. The findings will be used by the Task Force to help develop guideline recommendations on depression screening in the general adult population and in pregnant and postpartum women in Canada. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42018099690).

Controlled trial of the impact of a BC adult mental health practice support program (AMHPSP) on primary health care professionals' management of depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression affects over 400 million people globally. The majority are seen in primary care. Barriers in providing adequate care are not solely related to physicians' knowledge/skills deficits, but also time constraints, lack of confidence/avoidance, which need to be addressed in mental health-care redesign. We hypothesized that family physician (FP) training in the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program (AMHPSP) would lead to greater improvements in patient depressive symptom ratings (a priori primary outcome) compared to treatment as usual. METHODS: From October 2013 to May 2015, in a controlled trial 77 FP practices were stratified on the total number of physicians/practice as well as urban/rural setting, and randomized to the British Columbia AMHPSP⎯a multi-component contact-based training to enhance FPs' comfort/skills in treating mild-moderate depression (intervention), or no training (control) by an investigator not operationally involved in the trial. FPs with a valid license to practice in NS were eligible. FPs from both groups were asked to identify 3-4 consecutive patients > 18 years old, diagnosis of depression, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10, able to read English, intact cognitive functioning. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: antidepressants within 5 weeks and psychotherapy within 3 months of enrollment, and clinically judged urgent/emergent medical/psychiatric condition. Patients were assigned to the same arm as their physician. Thirty-six practices recruited patients (intervention n = 23; control n = 13). The study was prematurely terminated at 6 months of enrollment start-date due to concomitant primary health-care transformation by health-system leaders which resulted in increased in-office demands, and recruitment failure. We used the PHQ-9 to assess between-group differences at baseline, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months follow-up. Outcome collectors and assessors were blind to group assignment. RESULTS: One hundred-and-twenty-nine patients (intervention n = 72; control n = 57) were analysed. A significant improvement in depression scores among intervention group patients emerged between 3 and 6 months, time by treatment interaction, likelihood ratio test (LR) chi2(3) = 7.96, p = .047. CONCLUSIONS: This novel skill-based program shows promise in translating increased FP comfort and skills managing depressed patients into improved patient clinical outcomes⎯even in absence of mental health specialists availability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: #NCT01975948 .

Efficacy of Sertraline in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Naive to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: A 10-Week Randomized, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Academic Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of sertraline compared with placebo in a good clinical practice trial conducted with major depressive disorder patients naive to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. METHODS: This was a 10-week randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double blind, superiority trial. Adult patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria), total score of 19 to 36 in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), were randomly allocated to sertraline (n = 39) or placebo (n = 38). Each patient received a fixed dose of sertraline 50 mg/d or placebo for 4 weeks. Afterward a flexible dose up to 200 mg/d was allowed if needed. The primary efficacy end point was clinical response defined as 50% score reduction in HAMD-17 at 10 weeks relative to baseline. Supplementary analysis was performed on HAMD-17 score change from baseline. FINDINGS: The clinical response favored sertraline (72% vs 32%; relative risk, 2.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-3.78; P = 0.0006). A linear mixed model showed arm × time interaction was significant (likelihood ratio test χ on 7 df = 48.42, P < 0.0001). The HAMD-17 change score favored sertraline from week 8 onwards. The most frequent adverse events in the sertraline arm were headache, diarrheas, and weight loss. IMPLICATIONS: In this trial, the benefit of sertraline compared with placebo appeared later than usual. The therapeutic process with a close doctor-patient relationship throughout the trial and the effect expectancy due to a new treatment might explain the response delay. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RPCEC, ID no. 00000128.

Impact of Skill-Based Approaches in Reducing Stigma in Primary Care Physicians: Results from a Double-Blind, Parallel-Cluster, Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Most interventions to reduce stigma in health professionals emphasize education and social contact-based strategies. We sought to evaluate a novel skill-based approach: the British Columbia Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program. We sought to determine the program's impact on primary care providers' stigma and their perceived confidence and comfort in providing care for mentally ill patients. We hypothesized that enhanced skills and increased comfort and confidence on the part of practitioners would lead to diminished social distance and stigmatization. Subsequently, we explored the program's impact on clinical outcomes and health care costs. These outcomes are reported separately, with reference to this article. METHODS: In a double-blind, cluster randomized controlled trial, 111 primary care physicians were assigned to intervention or control groups. A validated stigma assessment tool, the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC), was administered to both groups before and after training. Confidence and comfort were assessed using scales constructed from ad hoc items. RESULTS: In the primary analysis, no significant differences in stigma were found. However, a subscale assessing social distance showed significant improvement in the intervention group after adjustment for a variable (practice size) that was unequally distributed in the randomization. Significant increases in confidence and comfort in managing mental illness were observed among intervention group physicians. A positive correlation was found between increased levels of confidence/comfort and improvements in overall stigma, especially in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides some preliminary evidence of a positive impact on health care professionals' stigma through a skill-building approach to management of mild to moderate depression and anxiety in primary care. The intervention can be used as a primary vehicle for enhancing comfort and skills in health care providers and, ultimately, reducing an important dimension of stigma: preference for social distance.

Opening minds in Canada: targeting change.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the ongoing activities of the Opening Minds (OM) Anti-Stigma Initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada regarding the 4 groups targeted (youth, health care providers, media, and workplaces), highlight some of the key methodological challenges, and review lessons learned. METHOD: The approach used by OM is rooted in community development philosophy, with clearly defined target groups, contact-based education as the central organizing element across interventions, and a strong evaluative component so that best practices can be identified, replicated, and disseminated. Contact-based education occurs when people who have experienced a mental illness share their personal story of recovery and hope. RESULTS: Results have been generally positive. Contact-based education has the capacity to reduce prejudicial attitudes and improve social acceptance of people with a mental illness across various target groups and sectors. Variations in program outcomes have contributed to our understanding of active ingredients. CONCLUSIONS: Contact-based education has become a cornerstone of the OM approach to stigma reduction. A story of hope and recovery told by someone who has experienced a mental illness is powerful and engaging, and a critical ingredient in the fight against stigma. Building partnerships with existing community programs and promoting systematic evaluation using standardized approaches and instruments have contributed to our understanding of best practices in the field of anti-stigma programming. The next challenge will be to scale these up so that they may have a national impact.

Opening minds in Canada: background and rationale.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the background and rationale of the approach taken by the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Opening Minds (OM) Anti-Stigma Initiative. METHOD: The approach taken by OM incorporates a grassroots, community development philosophy, has clearly defined target groups, uses contact-based education as the central organizing element across interventions, and has a strong evaluative component, so that best practices can be identified, replicated, and disseminated. Contact-based education occurs when people who have experienced a mental illness share their personal story of recovery and hope. RESULTS: OM has acted as a catalyst to develop partnerships between community groups who are undertaking anti-stigma work and an interdisciplinary team of academic researchers in 5 universities who are evaluating the results of these programs. CONCLUSIONS: Building partnerships with existing community programs and promoting systematic evaluation using standardized approaches and instruments have contributed to our understanding of best practices in the field of anti-stigma programming.

The feasibility of a mental health curriculum in elementary school.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility and short-term impact of implementing a novel curriculum in a linguistically and geographically isolated francophone community to enhance elementary schoolchildren's (Grades 1 to 7; n = 158) knowledge and attitudes regarding mental health. METHODS: The project team developed a curriculum that covered expected emotional development, depression, anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to be delivered by the school's usual teachers. Committee members led focused discussions (Grades 1 to 7) and administered evaluation questionnaires (Grades 4 to 7) surveying students' knowledge and attitudes before and after implementation. RESULTS: Teachers were enthusiastic about the project. Parents were initially skeptical, but post hoc interventions by school staff secured participation consent for 98% of the students. Baseline data (Grades 4 to 7) revealed little knowledge and some negative attitudes regarding mental illnesses; postprogram data indicated improved knowledge and suggested improved attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: The project was made feasible by the high degree of involvement of local community members. Children's (Grades 4 to 7) mental health awareness and understanding was enhanced by the curriculum. Effects on help-seeking behaviour and case identification have yet to be assessed.

Pregabalin: a new anxiolytic.

Pregabalin (S-[+]-3-isobutylgaba) was designed as a lipophilic GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) analogue substituted at the 3'-position in order to facilitate diffusion across the blood-brain barrier. It was originally developed as an anticonvulsant agent, however it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of several disorders including hyperalgesia and behavioural disorders. Although its exact mode of action remains unclear, pregabalin interacts with the same binding site and has a similar pharmacological profile as its predecessor, gabapentin (1-[aminomethyl] cyclohexane acetic acid). Its main site of action appears to be on the alpha(2)delta subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, widely distributed throughout the peripheral and central nervous system. Pregabalin appears to produce an inhibitory modulation of neuronal excitability. In healthy volunteers, it is rapidly absorbed with peak blood concentrations within 1 h and it has a bioavailability of approximately 90%. In preclinical trials of anticonvulsant activity, pregabalin is three to ten times more potent than gabapentin. It is well-tolerated and associated with dose-dependent adverse effects (ataxia, dizziness, headache and somnolence) that are mild-to-moderate and usually transient. There are no known pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions reported to date. Preliminary animal and human studies showed beneficial effects in both ethological and conflict models of anxiety, as well as having some sleep-modulating properties. In Phase II and III trials, pregabalin shows promising anxiolytic action when compared to placebo in generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia and panic disorder.

Short-term educational intervention improves family physicians' knowledge of depression.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is frequently unrecognized and undertreated. Therefore, there is a need to increase the knowledge and skills of primary care physicians regarding management of depression. The aim of this study was to determine if a brief educational intervention can affect family physicians' knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of depression. METHOD: Sixty-eight community-based, nonacademic family physicians completed the program, which was delivered using a mixed lecture-seminar format. Knowledge about depression was assessed pre- and post-program. Paired-sample t test and chi-square test were used to compare test scores. RESULTS: Although study physicians demonstrated high baseline knowledge of depression, 75% of them had better scores following the program. The increase in knowledge was statistically significant (p < .0001). DISCUSSION: Our study demonstrates that a simple and brief educational program can enhance family physicians' knowledge of depression; however, an increase in knowledge alone may not necessarily translate into practice behavior change.

Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Program on Practice Patterns of Canadian Family Physicians Interested in Depression Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Depression is frequently unrecognized and undertreated. Therefore, there is a need to increase the knowledge and skills of primary care physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of depression. The aim of this study was to provide, and evaluate the impact of, a brief educational program with a number of practice tools and resources in order to improve family physicians' knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of depression. METHODS: Two educational programs (general and enhanced) were delivered to family physicians interested in depression treatment. The enhanced program focused on more practical clinical issues such as use of diagnostic and symptom assessment tools, recommended dosing of citalopram, how to initiate and discontinue treatment, and relapse prevention. Physicians' knowledge of depression was assessed pretraining and posttraining. Chart audits were conducted for 6 months. Primary endpoints were recognition of depression and pharmacologic management (initial dose, maximum dose, length of treatment, adverse events, and concomitant psychotropic drugs). Secondary endpoints were patient satisfaction with treatment, compliance, withdrawal from the study, treatment outcome, use of adjunctive psychotherapy, and number of office visits. RESULTS: There was a global increase in physicians' knowledge of depression in the short term. Physicians in the enhanced group were more likely to use a symptom-based diagnostic checklist, record the diagnosis of depression, and prescribe the recommended initial dose of citalopram, and they referred less frequently for adjunctive psychotherapy. No difference between educational intervention groups was found in patient satisfaction, compliance, and treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A well-designed brief, simple, and low-cost educational program can increase family physicians' knowledge of depression, improve their diagnostic skills, and optimize their treatment of depression.