title: Primary care experiences of people with psychiatric disabilities: barriers to care and potential solutions.
abstract: This study examined the barriers that 16 focus group participants with psychiatric disabilities confront in obtaining primary care services and their recommendations on improving quality of care. They cited a) difficulty identifying a primary care physician with good empathic and communication skills, b) physicians' misunderstanding of the nature of psychiatric disability, c) inadequate information about the side effects of psychotropic medications, and d) costs due to inadequate insurance coverage. In addition to suggestions for improving patient-physician communication and expanding physician knowledge, participants emphasized strategies to become empowered in their relationships with physicians and to obtain personal support.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University Institute for Policy Research, Washington, DC, USA. bonnoday@comcast.net
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Day
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Killeen
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Lisa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Iezzoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003710:Demography; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs