A national survey of family physicians: perspectives on collaboration with marriage and family therapists.

Recognizing the fit between family medicine and marriage and family therapy (MFT), members of both fields have made significant advances in collaborative health research and practice. To add to this work, we surveyed a nationwide random sample of 240 family physicians (FPs) and asked about their perspectives and experiences of collaboration with MFTs. We found that FPs frequently perceive a need for their patients to receive MFT-related care, but their referral to and collaboration with MFTs were limited. Through responses to an open-ended question, we gained valuable information as to how MFTs could more effectively initiate collaboration with FPs.