Barriers perceived by family doctors in the implementation of medical education for the prevention of mental health disorders in the perinatal period

Abstract

Objective. The prevention of mental health disorders and the promotion of mental health are valuable tools for reducing the incidence and prevalence of mental health disorders. These tools can be used by family physicians, early, since the perinatal period. The objective of the research was to identify the barriers perceived by family doctors in communicating preventive measures for mental health disorders, through medical education, to the young patient in the preconception period and the pregnant patient. Method and results. The research was conducted on the basis of a self-administered, anonymized questionnaire. The target group was represented by 153 family doctors from Romania. The answers to the questions aiming to identify the possibility for the family doctors to do medical education for the prevention of mental health disorders of the future conception product, in the young woman, in the preconception period as well as in the pregnant woman were analyzed. The results showed that 32.89% of respondents express their willingness to do medical education to prevent mental health disorders of the future product of conception in women in preconception and 41.45% in pregnant women. The ranking of the reasons chosen for the lack of availability to communicate preventive measures during the consultation, in the patient in the preconception period, puts on the first place the lack of necessary work tools (45.10%), and on the second place, the lack of knowledge of communication techniques for such situations (22.55%), and on the third, the fact that patients do not come to the doctor with such questions (17.65%). In pregnant women, the perceived barriers are: lack of necessary work tools (47.19%), lack of knowledge of communication techniques for such situations (22.47%), and the fact that patients do not come with such questions to the family doctor (14.67%). Conclusions. Family physicians express their willingness to communicate preventive measures and to promote mental health through early applied medical education, since the perinatal period. The research reveals that the lack of knowledge of communication techniques, the lack of adapted work tools and the fact that patients do not come with such questions to the family doctor are the main barriers perceived by family doctors.

Keywords

• family medicine
• mental health
• prevention
• medical education
• preconception
• perinatal