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

Abstract

AimTo assess the self-perceived competencies in diagnosing and treating patients with mental health disorders, among recently graduated general practitioners (GPs) from Lima, Peru.MethodsA 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.ResultsOut 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.ConclusionThe 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.

Anxiety, Distress, and Turnover Intention of Healthcare Workers in Peru by Their Distance to the Epicenter during the COVID-19 Crisis

“…This was reported in a self-perception survey that evaluated the competence of Peruvian general practitioners in diagnosing and treating major depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol dependence, and schizophrenia. 56 It is reported that of the 434 responders, 70.5% believed they were competent in diagnosing depression, 73.3% for anxiety, 67.6% for alcohol dependence, 62.0% for schizophrenia, and when the four mental disorders were combined, only 41.6% of participants self-perceived competence in providing an adequate diagnosis. 56 These results highlighted the need to improve medical education so as to develop the skills necessary to confront mental health disorders.…”

“…56 It is reported that of the 434 responders, 70.5% believed they were competent in diagnosing depression, 73.3% for anxiety, 67.6% for alcohol dependence, 62.0% for schizophrenia, and when the four mental disorders were combined, only 41.6% of participants self-perceived competence in providing an adequate diagnosis. 56 These results highlighted the need to improve medical education so as to develop the skills necessary to confront mental health disorders. 56 There is a very limited number of studies that have assessed mental health in the general public and healthcare workers in Peru, and, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the mental health of healthcare workers in Peru during the COVID-19 outbreak.…”

“…56 These results highlighted the need to improve medical education so as to develop the skills necessary to confront mental health disorders. 56 There is a very limited number of studies that have assessed mental health in the general public and healthcare workers in Peru, and, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the mental health of healthcare workers in Peru during the COVID-19 outbreak.…”

Barriers and facilitators for clinical trial participation of underrepresented and non-underrepresented fibromyalgia patients: A cross-sectional internet survey

“…Also, we performed a Kruskal Wallis test to evaluate the differences between the perceived importance across domains from the Likert scale, as was done in a previous study [ 43 ]. To do so, we coded the four possible answers: 4 = very important, 3 = somewhat important, 2 = not very important, and 1 = not at all important.…”

Saúde mental em concursos de residência médica: implicações das Diretrizes Nacionais Curriculares de 2014

“…Mais uma vez, exploram-se de forma preponderante os aspectos biológicos. A cobrança excessiva de tratamento farmacológico pode fazer com que os clínicos gerais recém-formados, apesar de reconhecerem e diagnosticarem corretamente os transtornos mentais em geral, sintam-se inseguros em prescrever tratamentos não farmacológicos para seus pacientes 16,17 . É importante ressaltar que a SM, especialmente a psiquiatria, representante da área médica, necessita se relacionar com os fatores orgânico e biológico para receber sua credibilidade.…”