Perception and barriers to the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of depression in primary healthcare centers and family medicine clinics in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) and family medicine physicians (FMPs) have a vital role to play in co-ordinating the care for mental disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the perception of GPs and FMPs on the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression in Saudi Arabia, and the barriers against the implementation of CBT in such settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All physicians working in Primary Healthcare Centers and Family Medicine Clinics in Saudi Arabia were targeted and invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered online questionnaire was sent via E-mail through the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine. Data was collected using an existing validated questionnaire and was modified to fit the objectives of current study. RESULTS: A total of 469 FMPs and GPs completed the survey; the mean age of respondents was 38 years. More than half of the FMPs' and GPs' (53%) showed a positive perception of the use of CBT in primary healthcare settings. Most participants (91.9%) were willing to use CBT if they had adequate education and training. More than half of the participants (59.5%) thought it was time-consuming, while 39% thought that CBT training was a very time-intensive process. CONCLUSION: We conclude that more than half of the physicians clearly had a good perception of the effectiveness of CBT administration in primary healthcare settings. Younger physicians were more perceptive. The most agreed-on barrier to CBT implementation was the lack of training and education.

Resident satisfaction with the pediatric surgery training program.

BACKGROUND: The pediatric surgery residency program is new in Saudi Arabia. As with any new program, residents experience a degree of fear and anxiety about their future in the program. The aim of this study is to examine residents' satisfaction with the program. METHODS: This study included an online survey examining residents' satisfaction. It consisted of demographic, financial, personality, program-specific, and burnout assessment questions. All questions were multiple-choice items. Descriptive statistical data are presented as frequency distributions and percentages. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were used at the bivariate level of analysis to compare subgroups and identify factors of satisfaction. Binary logistics regression was used at the multivariate level of analysis to compute the odds ratio of significant variables. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of 32 residents responded to the survey. The multivariate logistic regression showed that current year of residency, current relationship status and personality statistically affected the satisfaction of residents. Senior residents, i.e., residents who had spent four years or more in the program, were 40 times more likely to be satisfied than were residents in their first year; residents who were married were more than eight times more likely to be satisfied than were residents who were single; and residents who were neutral or who agreed that they were very indecisive were 8% less likely to be satisfied than were those who reported being decisive. Gender was statistically significant, such that males were more satisfied than females were. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pediatric surgery residency program is new, this survey has shown that there is generally a high rate of satisfaction. Satisfaction was also observed more in senior residents. Further studies should be conducted in the future when residents graduate from the program.