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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

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01-11-2015 | Original Article

Obstacles in Managing Mental Health Problems for Primary Care Physicians in Hong Kong

Authors: Kai Sing Sun, Tai Pong Lam, Kwok Fai Lam, Tak Lam Lo

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 6/2015

Abstract

This study investigated the obstacles for primary care physicians (PCPs) to managing mental health problems in Hong Kong. Focus group data collected from PCPs and psychiatrists were used to construct a questionnaire for a quantitative survey with 516 PCPs respondents. The results showed that their commonly perceived obstacles were lack of timely access to public psychiatrists, lack of feedback from both public and private psychiatrists after referrals; as well as patients’ reluctance to be referred. Factor analysis and correlational analysis found that the numbers of mental health patients treated by the PCPs were mainly determined by the PCPs’ own clinical constraints, including limited confidence in diagnosis and management, time constraint, and limited job satisfaction.

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Title: Obstacles in Managing Mental Health Problems for Primary Care Physicians in Hong Kong
Authors: Kai Sing Sun
Tai Pong Lam
Kwok Fai Lam
Tak Lam Lo
Publication date: 01-11-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 6/2015
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0605-x

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Obstacles in Managing Mental Health Problems for Primary Care Physicians in Hong Kong

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