title: Improving the management of late-life depression in primary care: barriers and facilitators.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to elicit Canadian health professionals' views on the barriers to identifying and treating late-life depression in primary care settings and on the solutions felt to be most important and feasible to implement. A consensus development process was used to generate, rank, and discuss solutions. Twenty-three health professionals participated in the consensus process. Results were analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants generated 12 solutions. One solution, developing mechanisms to increase family physicians' awareness of resources, was highly ranked for importance and feasibility by most participants. Another solution, providing family physicians with direct mental health support, was highly ranked as important but not as feasible by most participants. Deliberations emphasized the importance of case specific, as needed support based on the principles of shared care. The results suggest that practitioners highly value collaborative care but question the feasibility of implementing these principles in current Canadian primary care contexts.
authors: School of Social Work, McGill University, 3506 University Street, Room 300, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2A7.
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Sussman
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Yaffe
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: McCusker
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Parry
authors: Maida
authors: M
authors: Sewitch
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Van Bussel
authors: Ilyan
authors: I
authors: Ferrer