“…The descriptive data from this study reinforce and emphasize the need for GP skills in screening and identifying risk factors to address their patients' unmet mental health needs and the increased risk of adverse psychosocial outcomes following a traumatic experience. 44,45 Interestingly, the patient group did not report a history of mental illness diagnosed by a clinician. A family history of substance use was reported by 70% of the group, and 50% described symptoms consistent with a history of a complicated bereavement reaction.…”
Introduction:
Following natural disasters, rural general practitioners (GPs) are expected to undertake several roles, including identifying those experiencing psychological distress and providing evidence-informed mental health care. This paper reports on a collaborative mental health program developed to support a rural GP practice (population <1,500) and a disaster response service.
Methods:
The program provided specialized disaster mental health care via the placement of a clinician in the GP facility. In collaboration with the GP practice, the program offered opportunistic screening using the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale (PC-PTSD) for probable PTSD as the primary measure and the Kessler 6 (K6) as a secondary measure. Those scoring higher than two on the PC-PTSD scale were referred to the mental health clinician (MHC) for further assessment and treatment.
Results:
Sixty screening assessments were completed. Fourteen patients (male = 3; female = 11) scored higher than two on the PC-PTSD. The referred group PC-PTSD mean score was 3.14 and K6 mean score of 19. Those not referred had a PC-PTSD mean score = 0.72 and K6 mean score = 7.30. The treatment and non-treatment groups differed significantly (PC-PTSD: P <.00001 and K6: P <.00001). A prior history of trauma exposure was notable in the intervention group. Eight reported a history of domestic violence, seven histories of sexual abuse, five childhood sexual abuse, and eight intimate partner violence (IPV).
Conclusion:
A post-disaster integrated GP and mental health program in a rural community can assist in identifying individuals experiencing post-disaster psychological distress using opportunistic psychological screening. The findings indicate that collaborative mental health programs may effectively support rural communities post-disaster.
“…The descriptive data from this study reinforce and emphasize the need for GP skills in screening and identifying risk factors to address their patients' unmet mental health needs and the increased risk of adverse psychosocial outcomes following a traumatic experience. 44,45 Interestingly, the patient group did not report a history of mental illness diagnosed by a clinician. A family history of substance use was reported by 70% of the group, and 50% described symptoms consistent with a history of a complicated bereavement reaction.…”
Introduction:
Following natural disasters, rural general practitioners (GPs) are expected to undertake several roles, including identifying those experiencing psychological distress and providing evidence-informed mental health care. This paper reports on a collaborative mental health program developed to support a rural GP practice (population <1,500) and a disaster response service.
Methods:
The program provided specialized disaster mental health care via the placement of a clinician in the GP facility. In collaboration with the GP practice, the program offered opportunistic screening using the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale (PC-PTSD) for probable PTSD as the primary measure and the Kessler 6 (K6) as a secondary measure. Those scoring higher than two on the PC-PTSD scale were referred to the mental health clinician (MHC) for further assessment and treatment.
Results:
Sixty screening assessments were completed. Fourteen patients (male = 3; female = 11) scored higher than two on the PC-PTSD. The referred group PC-PTSD mean score was 3.14 and K6 mean score of 19. Those not referred had a PC-PTSD mean score = 0.72 and K6 mean score = 7.30. The treatment and non-treatment groups differed significantly (PC-PTSD: P <.00001 and K6: P <.00001). A prior history of trauma exposure was notable in the intervention group. Eight reported a history of domestic violence, seven histories of sexual abuse, five childhood sexual abuse, and eight intimate partner violence (IPV).
Conclusion:
A post-disaster integrated GP and mental health program in a rural community can assist in identifying individuals experiencing post-disaster psychological distress using opportunistic psychological screening. The findings indicate that collaborative mental health programs may effectively support rural communities post-disaster.
“…To effectively respond to mega disasters, physicians must be prepared to handle multi-casualty incidents within their own hospitals ( 64 ). However, while managing terrorism-related disasters, physician's training may be deficient; therefore, simulated training may be required in effective and adequate preparation and enhancement of confidence to respond to terrorism-related disasters ( 65 ). This requirement is also evident from our study where the respondents agreed about the lack of training and security measures which means that they are putting their own life and the safety of the patients at risk.…”
BackgroundBesides catastrophes, infrastructural damages, and psychosocial distress, terrorism also imposes an unexpected burden on healthcare services. Considerably, adequately-prepared and responsive healthcare professionals affirms effective management of terrorism-related incidences. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate physicians' preparedness and response toward terrorism-related disaster events in Quetta city, Pakistan.MethodsA qualitative design was adopted. Physicians practicing at the Trauma Center of Sandeman Provincial Hospital (SPH), Quetta, were approached for the study. We conducted in-depth interviews; all interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for thematic contents by a standard content analysis framework.ResultsFifteen physicians were interviewed. The saturation was achieved at the 13th interview however we conducted another two to validate the saturation. The thematic content analysis revealed five themes and 11 subthemes. All physicians have experienced, responded to, and managed terrorism-related disaster events. They were prepared professionally and psychologically in dealing with a terrorism-related disaster. Physicians identified lack of disaster-related curricula and training, absence of a standardized protocol, recurrence of the disaster, and hostile behavior of victim's attendants during an emergency as critical barriers to effective terrorism-related disaster management. Among limitations, all respondents mentioned workspace, and resources as a foremost constraint while managing a terrorism-related disaster event.ConclusionAlthough physicians understood the abilities and had the required competencies to mitigate a terrorism-related disaster, lack of workspace and resources were identified as a potential barrier to effective disaster management. Based on the results, we propose reconsideration and integration of the medical curriculum, particularly for terrorism-related disaster management, collaboration, and communication among various stakeholders to manage terrorism-related disaster events competently.
“…Primary care physicians (PCPs) play an important role in disaster medicine, particularly in supporting chronically affected areas 1,2 . PCPs must be trained in disaster preparedness to ensure that they have the knowledge and confidence to lead or participate in disaster response 1,3 .…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Primary care physicians (PCPs) play an important role in disaster medicine, particularly in supporting chronically affected areas 1,2 . PCPs must be trained in disaster preparedness to ensure that they have the knowledge and confidence to lead or participate in disaster response 1,3 . Medical schools, residency programs, and continuing medical education courses should emphasize disaster preparedness and provide PCPs with the tools they need to become familiar with and confident in assuming a role in disaster preparedness 1,4 .…”
Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a critical role in disaster medicine. However, it is unclear how PCPs who provide chronic support to disaster-affected areas learn from their experiences.Methods: This qualitative study investigates the learnings of young PCPs who provided medical care during the chronic phase of the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster.Results: Thematic analysis of interviews with five physicians revealed the challenges faced by them and their learnings in providing medical support to disaster-affected areas.
Conclusions:They not only learned medical skills but also humanistic aspects such as empathizing with the survivors' loss.
K E Y W O R D Sdisaster medicine, family medicine residents, Great East Japan Earthquake, primary care physicians, qualitative research How to cite this article: Son D, Kise M, Kaku T, Obara Y, Onishi H. Exploring the experiences and learning of young primary care physicians in disaster-affected areas: A qualitative study on the Great East Japan Earthquake.
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