AIM: To implement and evaluate an educational program for primary care physicians on recognition and treatment of depression and suicide prevention. METHOD: The study was conducted in 3 Slovenian neighboring regions (Celje, Ravne na Koroskem, and Podravska) with similar suicide rates and other health indicators. All primary care physicians from Celje (N=155) and Ravne na Koroskem (N=35) were invited to participate in the educational program on depression treatment and suicide risk recognition. From January to March 2003, approximately half of them (82 out of 190; educational group) attended the program, whereas the other half (108 out of 190; control group 1) and physicians from the Podravska region (N=164; control group 2) did not attend the program. The prescription rates of antidepressants and anxiolytics before and after the intervention were compared between the studied regions. Also, suicide rates three-years before and after the intervention were compared. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2003, there was a 2.33-fold increase in the rate of antidepressant prescriptions in the educational group (P<0.05) and only 1.28-fold (P<0.05) and 1.34-fold (P<0.05) increase in control groups 1 and 2, respectively. However, the 12% decrease in suicide rate in the intervention regions was not significantly greater than the 4% decrease in the non-intervention region (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our training program was beneficial for primary care physicians' ability to recognize and manage depression. However, there was no significant decrease in local suicide rates.
AIM: To implement and evaluate an educational program for primary care physicians on recognition and treatment of depression and suicide prevention. METHOD: The study was conducted in 3 Slovenian neighboring regions (Celje, Ravne na Koroskem, and Podravska) with similar suicide rates and other health indicators. All primary care physicians from Celje (N=155) and Ravne na Koroskem (N=35) were invited to participate in the educational program on depression treatment and suicide risk recognition. From January to March 2003, approximately half of them (82 out of 190; educational group) attended the program, whereas the other half (108 out of 190; control group 1) and physicians from the Podravska region (N=164; control group 2) did not attend the program. The prescription rates of antidepressants and anxiolytics before and after the intervention were compared between the studied regions. Also, suicide rates three-years before and after the intervention were compared. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2003, there was a 2.33-fold increase in the rate of antidepressant prescriptions in the educational group (P<0.05) and only 1.28-fold (P<0.05) and 1.34-fold (P<0.05) increase in control groups 1 and 2, respectively. However, the 12% decrease in suicide rate in the intervention regions was not significantly greater than the 4% decrease in the non-intervention region (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our training program was beneficial for primary care physicians' ability to recognize and manage depression. However, there was no significant decrease in local suicide rates.
Authors: C Thompson; A L Kinmonth; L Stevens; R C Peveler; A Stevens; K J Ostler; R M Pickering; N G Baker; A Henson; J Preece; D Cooper; M J Campbell Journal: Lancet Date: 2000-01-15 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Michael P Pignone; Bradley N Gaynes; Jerry L Rushton; Catherine Mills Burchell; C Tracy Orleans; Cynthia D Mulrow; Kathleen N Lohr Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2002-05-21 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Claudia Sikorski; Melanie Luppa; Hans-Helmut König; Hendrik van den Bussche; Steffi G Riedel-Heller Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2012-01-10 Impact factor: 2.655