We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Practice-based depression case management in primary care: a qualitative study on family doctors’ perspectives.
- Authors
Gensichen, J; Güthlin, C; Kleppel, V; Jäger, C; Mergenthal, K; Gerlach, F M; Petersen, J J
- Abstract
Background. Case management provided by health care assistants (HCAs) is effective in improving primary care for depressive patients. Little is known on the implementation-related aspects of case management performed in small family practices.Objective. To explore family doctors’ perspectives on clinical and organizational aspects of implementation of case management and perceived practice-related aspects associated with patient care after 1 year's experience of HCAs providing case management for depressive patients in their practices.Methods. This qualitative study was nested in a cluster-randomized trial on case management provided by practice-based HCAs for patients with major depression in Germany. We used semi-structured interview guides and performed audio-taped interviews with family doctors. Full transcription and thematic content analysis were carried out.Results. Twenty-three family doctors were interviewed. The family doctors perceived case management as beneficial to patients and reported that it improved their consultation styles and doctor–patient relationships. They implemented case management elements into their everyday day work using ‘concrete’, ‘subsumed’ or ‘progressive’ implementation styles.Conclusions. Family doctors perceived practice-based case management by HCAs as beneficial for patient care. Different implementation styles may be appropriate, depending on the health care setting, and this requires further evaluation.
- Subjects
GERMANY; MENTAL illness; DEPRESSED persons; PRIMARY care; DISEASE management; HOSPITAL case management services; QUALITATIVE research; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; PATIENTS
- Publication
Family Practice, 2011, Vol 28, Issue 5, p565
- ISSN
0263-2136
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/fampra/cmr014