title: Cluster randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of primary care mental health workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental health issues are a core part of the work of primary care and are the second most common reason for consultations. There is some evidence that the quality of primary care mental health provision is variable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of primary care mental health workers with regards to satisfaction with care, mental health symptoms, use of the voluntary sector, and cost effectiveness of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practices in the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, Birmingham, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen practices and 368 patients (18 to 65 years of age) with a diagnosis of a new or ongoing common mental health problem were recruited. Sixteen practices and 284 patients completed the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in intervention practices had a higher mean level of general satisfaction than those in control practices (difference between group scores of 8.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.3 to 15.3, P = 0.023). The two groups did not differ in mental health symptom scores or use of the voluntary sector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with common mental health problems, primary care mental health workers may be effective at increasing satisfaction with an episode of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and General Practice, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. H.E.Lester@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freemantle
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sorohan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shankar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome