Table 4.
Rural physicians’ views of potential barriers to adequate diagnosis and treatment of geriatric depression
| Physician view | Barrier rating† n(%) | Mean (SD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Somewhat | Often | Major | ||
| Insurance coverage of mental care is inadequate | 1 (1.3) | 12 (15.8) | 31 (40.8) | 32 (42.1) | 3.2 (.76) |
| Access to mental healthcare is a problem in our community | 4 (5.3) | 15 (19.7) | 25 (32.9) | 32 (42.1) | 3.1 (.91) |
| Patients will reject psychotherapy | 1 (1.3) | 22 (28.9) | 29 (38.2) | 18 (23.7) | 2.9 (.75) |
| Patients are concerned about medication side effects | 3 (3.9) | 22 (28.9) | 37 (48.7) | 14 (18.40) | 2.8 (.78) |
| Co-morbidity in depressed elderly | 5 (6.6) | 18 (23.7) | 43 (56.6) | 10 (13.2) | 2.7 (.76) |
| Stigma of psychiatric treatment | 7 (9.2) | 22 (28.9) | 29 (38.2) | 18 (23.7) | 2.7 (.92) |
| Appointment is too short | 6 (7.9) | 29 (28.2) | 28 (36.8) | 13 (17.1) | 2.6 (.86) |
| Low confidence in treatment with counseling | 21 (27.6) | 33 (43.4) | 20 (26.3) | 2 (2.6) | 2.0 (.81) |
| Patient reluctance to discuss emotional problems | 50 (65.8) | 19 (25) | 5 (6.6) | 2 (2.6) | 1.5 (.74) |
†
No barrier = 1; somewhat of a barrier = 2; often a barrier = 3; major barrier = 4.