title: Family physicians and psychiatrists. Qualitative study of physicians' views on collaboration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand how to improve collaboration between psychiatrists and family physicians in primary care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using 10 in-depth interviews and a focus group session.
  
  
  METHODS
  Catchment area in eastern Montreal, Que.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five FPs and five psychiatrists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten interviews and a focus group were conducted to identify ways of improving collaboration between FPs and psychiatrists. All session were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysts used Atlas.ti to compare findings vertically and horizontally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three strategies were identified: communication, continuing medical education (CME) for FPs, and access to consulting psychiatrists. The first two can be implemented by FPs and psychiatrists together, but psychiatrists thought the last one was not feasible due to lack of both time and remuneration for such activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better communication and CME for FPs in psychiatry can help improve collaboration between FPs and psychiatrists. Increased access to consulting psychiatrists requires substantial alteration in established clinical roles and routines.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Fernand-Seguin, Hôpital Louis-H Lafontaine, 7331 rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3V2.
authors.forename: Ricardo J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesage
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D011792:Quebec; D012017:Referral and Consultation