Barriers to care for depressed older people: perceptions of aged care among medical professionals.
The current study evaluated barriers to detection of depression among older people. Focus groups were conducted with 21 professional carers, 4 nurses, 10 general practitioners, and 7 aged care managers. The results demonstrated that care for older people is primarily focused on physical care. Further, staff resources, a lack of continuity of care, multiple co-morbidities, reluctance by older people to discuss depression, negative attitudes among carers, as well as a lack of skills all contributed to a failure to detect and treat depression. The implications of these findings for training programs for professional carers are discussed.
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. marita.mccabe@deakin.edu.au
Marita P
MP
McCabe
Tanya
T
Davison
David
D
Mellor
Kuruvilla
K
George
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024382:Professional Role