Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Mental and Behavioral Health Screening and Treatment in Primary Care for Women in Northeast Tennessee

• Main Author: Hill, Sarah K
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2013
• Subjects: mental health; behavioral health; screening; treatment; primary care; qualitative analysis; Clinical Psychology; Health Psychology
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2267; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3523&context=etd

Between one quarter and one third of all primary care patients meet criteria for at least one mental disorder. However, many women are not screened for mental disorders as recommended by the literature. Some studies suggest even lower rates of screening and treatment in rural areas. This researcher sought to identify barriers and facilitators to mental and behavioral health screening and treatment for women in primary care and solicit feedback on how to ameliorate perceived barriers. Given the limited extant data describing rural Appalachian women’s perceptions of barriers and facilitators to receiving mental health services an exploratory qualitative analysis was conducted. Eighteen individual interviews with female primary care patients were conducted. Results identified stigma, lack of support, and lack of patient education around mental health as major barriers; facilitators included integrated care and positive experiences with providers. Directions for future research and implications for behavioral health practice in rural primary care are discussed.