Table 4.
Family physicians’ views on collaboration with psychologists
| ASPECTS OF COLLABORATION | NO. OF RESPONDENTS | % WHO AGREED |
|---|---|---|
| Do evidence-based psychotherapies exist? (yes) | 110 | 95 |
| Psychological intervention will help with | 110 | |
| • Mental and emotional problems | 100 | |
| • Personal problems | 98 | |
| • Physical problems (eg, chronic pain, fatigue, and disease) | 78 | |
| Reasons to refer to a psychologist | 117 | |
| • Belief that psychotherapy is appropriate | 84 | |
| • Patient’s request | 62 | |
| • Acquaintance with psychologists in the community | 49 | |
| • Lack of time to counsel patients oneself | 45 | |
| • To gain support for diagnosis and management | 44 | |
| • Lack of interest in practising psychotherapy | 19 | |
| Reasons not to refer to a psychologist | 110 | |
| • Patient’s economic constraints | 95 | |
| • Lack of feedback from psychologists in the past | 22 | |
| • Lack of psychologists in the neighbourhood | 21 | |
| • Can offer an equivalent service | 9 | |
| • Negative experiences with psychologists in the past | 4 | |
| • It will not help or I do not refer patients | 3 | |
| • Other* | 11 | |
| Integration of psychologists into primary care would | 118 | |
| • Improve the quality of services offered to patients | 76 | |
| • Be a complementary addition | 59 | |
| • Be an effective collaboration | 56 | |
| • Be an essential addition to care | 52 | |
| • Allow for a useful exchange of knowledge between professionals | 49 | |
| • Increase patients’ satisfaction with care | 47 | |
| • Not be useful | 1 |
*
Lack of knowledge of psychologists in area (3), difficulties with access or long wait times (5), perception that psychologists are prejudiced in favour of insurance companies (1), lack of follow-up from psychologists (1), and psychiatrist available on site (1).