Bridging the Gap: An Educational Intervention to Enhance Mental Health Competency Among Primary and Specialty Care Providers

Maxwell F. Lydiatt, MD; William M. Lydiatt, MD; John C. Mitchell II, MD; Hannah V. Lydiatt, MS; Robert R. Althoff, MD, PhD; David H. Rubin, MD

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2024;26(6):24m03777

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate a novel curriculum aimed to increase nonpsychiatry providers’ confidence in treating mental health conditions.

Methods: The study sample consisted of a cohort of convenience of nonbehavioral health physicians and advanced practice providers. The authors administered pre and posttests to measure provider confidence in treating specific mental health diagnoses, utilizing specific classes of psychotropic medications, and managing specific clinical scenarios. Questions were ranked using a Likert scale from 1 (least comfortable) to 5 (very comfortable). Paired sample t-tests were utilized to compare the pre- and posttest survey results. A follow-up survey was administered 1 month following the completion of the seminar, and the results were analyzed qualitatively.

Results: Twenty nonbehavioral health care providers attended an educational 2-day seminar on August 3–4, 2023. There were statistically significant improvements between the pre- and posttest measures of confidence in all 31 items measured. At 1-month follow-up, 87.5% (N = 14) rated their overall impression of the seminar as “excellent” and 12.5% (N = 2) rated their impression as “very good.” At the 1- month follow-up, 15 participants reported treating patients for depression and anxiety, compared to 13 who had done so prior to the seminar.

Conclusions: An educational seminar hosted by psychiatrists is an effective intervention for increasing provider confidence in treating mental health conditions and could serve as a valuable method for expanding the mental health workforce.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord2024;26(6):24m03777

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