title: Should mental health issues be addressed in primary care, and can it be done? Views of rural general practitioners in Queensland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to examine self-efficacy and perceived appropriateness among rural general practitioners (GPs) in regards to screening and intervention for physical, lifestyle and mental health issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty GPs from 25 practices in eight rural Queensland towns completed a written survey designed for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General practitioners rated opportunistic screening or assessment for smoking and for detection of relapse of mental disorders as the most appropriate, with even cardiovascular and diabetes risk falling behind these. Self-efficacy was highest for medical disorders for smoking assessment. It was significantly lower for alcohol, mental health issues, and addressing risks of physical disorder in people with mental disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High appropriateness ratings suggest that current strategies to boost self-efficacy of GPs in addressing mental health issues are timely.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. h.sturk@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sturk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallois
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Merrill
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turpin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011793:Queensland; D019035:Rural Health Services; D020377:Self Efficacy