Michael G Sawyer1,2, Christy E Reece1,2, Alyssa Cp Sawyer1,2, Sarah E Johnson3, Harriet Hiscock4,5,6, David Lawrence7. 1. 1 Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 2. 2 Research and Evaluation Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, Women's and Children's Health Network, North Adelaide, SA, Australia. 3. 3 Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia. 4. 4 Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. 5. 5 Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 6. 6 Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 7. 7 Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the percentage of 4-17 year olds with mental disorders in Australia who attended health professionals for single or repeat visits to get help for emotional and behavioural problems during a 12-month period. To identify factors associated with single and repeat visits, and the average length of time between visits. To compare the number of parent-reported visits with visits recorded in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. METHOD: The study used data from the national survey of the mental health and wellbeing of 4-17 year olds conducted in 2013-2014 ( n = 6310). Participants were randomly selected from all 4 to 17 year olds in Australia. Information about visits was available from face-to-face interviews with parents, the Medicare Benefits Schedule and self-reports from 13 to 17 year olds. Mental disorders were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV completed by parents. RESULTS: Parents reported that 51.1% of 4-17 year olds with mental disorders had attended a health professional during the previous 12 months. However, 13.6% of these children had attended on only a single occasion, most commonly with a general practitioner. With the exception of occupational therapists, 2-4 visits was the most common number of repeat visits. Children with comorbid disorders and severe functional impairment and those aged 12-17 years were more likely to have repeat visits. Among those with linked Medicare Benefits Schedule data, more children were reported by parents to have attended Medicare Benefits Schedule-funded health professionals (47.9%) than were recorded in Medicare Benefits Schedule data (38.0%). CONCLUSION: The typical number of visits to health professionals by children with mental disorders during a 12-month period is relatively small. Furthermore, parent-reports may overestimate the number of visits during this time. It seems unlikely that current patterns of attendance are of sufficient duration and frequency to allow full implementation of evidence-based treatment programmes for child and adolescent mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the percentage of 4-17 year olds with mental disorders in Australia who attended health professionals for single or repeat visits to get help for emotional and behavioural problems during a 12-month period. To identify factors associated with single and repeat visits, and the average length of time between visits. To compare the number of parent-reported visits with visits recorded in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. METHOD: The study used data from the national survey of the mental health and wellbeing of 4-17 year olds conducted in 2013-2014 ( n = 6310). Participants were randomly selected from all 4 to 17 year olds in Australia. Information about visits was available from face-to-face interviews with parents, the Medicare Benefits Schedule and self-reports from 13 to 17 year olds. Mental disorders were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV completed by parents. RESULTS: Parents reported that 51.1% of 4-17 year olds with mental disorders had attended a health professional during the previous 12 months. However, 13.6% of these children had attended on only a single occasion, most commonly with a general practitioner. With the exception of occupational therapists, 2-4 visits was the most common number of repeat visits. Children with comorbid disorders and severe functional impairment and those aged 12-17 years were more likely to have repeat visits. Among those with linked Medicare Benefits Schedule data, more children were reported by parents to have attended Medicare Benefits Schedule-funded health professionals (47.9%) than were recorded in Medicare Benefits Schedule data (38.0%). CONCLUSION: The typical number of visits to health professionals by children with mental disorders during a 12-month period is relatively small. Furthermore, parent-reports may overestimate the number of visits during this time. It seems unlikely that current patterns of attendance are of sufficient duration and frequency to allow full implementation of evidence-based treatment programmes for child and adolescent mental disorders.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adolescents; Australia; children; health service use; mental disorders
Authors: Long Khanh-Dao Le; Sophy Shih; Scott Richards-Jones; Mary Lou Chatterton; Lidia Engel; Christopher Stevenson; David Lawrence; Genevieve Pepin; Cathrine Mihalopoulos Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-04-09 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Amy M Tedja; Meenakshi S Shanmugam; Stephen Stathis; Christel M Middeldorp Journal: Child Adolesc Ment Health Date: 2022-08-15 Impact factor: 4.111