Prevalence and frequency of mental health care provided by general practitioners: differences between 2 national data sources for the same population.
OBJECTIVE
Estimates from Canada's first national mental health surveillance initiative-which is based on diagnostic codes in administrative health care utilization databases-indicate that the proportion of Canadians who receive mental health care is more than twice as high as reported in Canada's national mental health survey. Our study examines and clarifies the nature and extent of differences between 2 predominant types of data that are used for mental health services research and planning.


METHODS
A person-by-person data linkage was conducted between the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being and administrative health care utilization records (British Columbia Ministry of Health Services-Medical Services Plan, and Hospital Discharge Abstract Database) within a universal-access, publically funded health care system, to examine the level of agreement between the data sources and respondent characteristics associated with agreement (N = 2378).


RESULTS
The prevalence of mental health care from general practitioners (GPs) was higher in administrative data (19.3%; 95% CI 17.7% to 20.9%) than survey data (8.5%; 95% CI 7.5% to 9.8%). Agreement between prevalence estimates from the 2 data sources was associated with age, mental health characteristics, and the number of GP visits. The median number of visits per person was significantly higher in the survey data.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs saw more than twice as many patients for mental health issues according to administrative data, compared with survey data; however, the number of visits per patient was higher in survey data.
Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. joanne.palin@gmail.com
JoAnne L
JL
Palin
Elliot M
EM
Goldner
Mieke
M
Koehoorn
Clyde
C
Hertzman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001955:British Columbia; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult