Patient experiences with depression care in general practice: a qualitative questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient experiences and preferences regarding depression care in general practice. DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative study based on free-text responses in a web-based survey in 2017. Participants were recruited by open invitation on the web page of a Norwegian patient organization for mental health. The survey consisted of four open-ended questions concerning depression care provided by general practitioners (GPs), including positive and negative experiences, and suggestions for improvement. The responses were analysed by Template Analysis. SUBJECTS: 250 persons completed the web-based survey, 86% were women. RESULTS: The analysis revealed five themes: The informants appreciated help from their GP; they wanted to be met by the GP with a listening, accepting, understanding and respectful attitude; they wanted to be involved in decisions regarding their treatment, including antidepressants which they thought should not be prescribed without follow-up; when referred to secondary mental care they found it wrong to have to find and contact a caregiver themselves; and they thought sickness certification should be individualised to be helpful. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in Norway appreciate the depression care they receive from their GP. It is important for patients to be involved in decision-making regarding their treatment.KEY POINTSDepression is common, and GPs are often patients' first point of contact when they seek help. • Patients who feel depressed appreciate help from their GP. • Patients prefer an empathetic GP who listens attentively and acknowledges their problems. • Individualised follow-up is essential when prescribing antidepressants, making a referral, or issuing a sickness absence certificate.

Norwegian general practitioners' perceptions of their depression care - a national survey.

BACKGROUND: The General Practitioner (GP) is often the first professional contact for patients with depression. Depression care constitutes a substantial part of GPs' workload. OBJECTIVE: To assess how GPs experience their patients' expectations and their own provision of depression care; further, how their depression care was associated with doctor- and practice-characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study about depression care in general practice among the GPs in the Norwegian Physician Survey of 2021. RESULTS: Of the 221 responding GPs, 50% were female and 70% agreed to have constant time pressure due to workload. The GPs believed that patients with depression were interested in their professional assessment (87.2%) and saw them as providers of talking therapy (76,9%). Still, 77,8% of the GPs thought the patients expected a referral. Talking therapy was commonly provided (79.6%) along with consultations of more than 30 min (80.4%). The youngest age group and GPs with shorter patient lists spent more time. Most GPs (92.3%) considered their help to be of great benefit for depressed patients. However, one-fourth of the GPs did not feel competent in providing talking therapy, less frequently reported by the GPs aged 40-54 years. CONCLUSIONS: Talking therapy is commonly provided by GPs. However, there is a need to investigate what GP talking therapy implies, and to strengthen GP skills in this regard. Overall, the GPs experience their depression care to be useful for their patients, and do not de-prioritize this although they experience workload pressure.