Authors

Javier Sanz Calvo1, Marta Morales Benito2, Rosario Gutiérrez Labrador2, Mariano de Iceta Ibáñez de Gauna3

Position

1Enfermero especialista en Salud Mental. Centro de Salud Mental de Alcobendas. Madrid2Psiquiatra. Centro de Salud Mental de Alcobendas. Madrid3Psiquiatra. Servicio de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental. Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía. San Sebastián de los Reyes (Madrid)

Contact address

Javier Sanz Calvo. Centro de Salud Mental “Miraflores”. Avenida de España, 50. 28701 Alcobendas (Madrid).

Contact email: jsanzc@salud.madrid.org

Abstract

Objective: to assess the opinion by Primary Care (PC) professionals regarding the coordination and functioning of the Mental Health services offered by the “Miraflores” Mental Health Centre in Alcobendas (Madrid). Also, to determine their self-perceived training, the management of follow-up and referral of cases, and their assessment of coordination tools.
Method: a cross-sectional descriptive study, including PC doctors and nurses attached to the Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía of the Community of Madrid (N= 344). Through a questionnaire designed ad hoc, the following variables were collected: training, therapeutic relationship, management of cases at PC and relationship with the Mental Health (MH) service measured through Likert-type scales from 1 (minimum) to 5 scores (maximum), as well as sociodemographic and occupational variables. Descriptive statistical indexes were conducted.
Results: the study included 29 professionals (25 doctors), who referred 31% of consultations associated with MH. They considered their training as sufficient ( = 3.17/5), and referral to cases to MH was determined by suicidal ideation ( =4.9/5) and severe symptomatology ( = 4.7/5). Mild cases were the most adequate to be managed at PC. They gave a score of 3.0/5 to the current coordination. The tool considered most useful was consultation between professionals by email ( = 4,31/5), as well as clinical sessions about cases requested by PC.
Conclusion: coordination achieved a positive evaluation. Some factors determining referral on which no direct action is possible were detected; but there are others that can be potentially addressed through consultations or sessions, which are tools positively valued by professionals.

Keywords:

Coordination of care; community psychiatry; Mental Health; Primary Care; cross-sectional studies; cross-sectional studies

Versión en Español

Título:

Coordinación de un servicio de Salud Mental con profesionales de Atención Primaria