Survey of General Practitioners on Psychiatric Services in Thailand
Author Information
Author(s): Lotrakul Manote, Saipanish Ratana
Primary Institution: Mahidol University
Hypothesis
What are the perceptions of general practitioners regarding psychiatric problems and treatment in primary care settings in Thailand?
Conclusion
Most drugs available through primary care were the same as what existed 3 decades ago, indicating a need for new and appropriate psychotropic drugs.
Supporting Evidence
- 67 of the respondents had special training and were excluded from the analysis.
- 65.6% of patients had physical problems, 10.7% had psychiatric problems.
- Commonly prescribed drugs included diazepam, amitriptyline, and haloperidol.
Takeaway
Doctors in Thailand who see many patients often think there are more people with mental health issues than they can help, but they don't have enough time or training to treat them properly.
Methodology
Cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey sent to 1,193 general practitioners.
Potential Biases
Responses may be influenced by GPs' attitudes rather than actual practices.
Limitations
The study may not accurately reflect all GPs' practices due to non-response bias and reliance on self-reported perceptions.
Participant Demographics
56% male, average work experience of 4.6 years, practicing in all 5 regions of Thailand.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.015
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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