title: The family-focused practice of primary care clinicians: a case of missed opportunities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many patients who present to primary care settings with mental health concerns are parents with dependent children. However, little is known about the family-focused practices of these clinicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the family-focused practices of a group of primary care clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sequential mixed methodology was employed; 21 primary care clinicians completed the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire and then participated in one of three focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary care clinicians do not commonly engage with patients about family issues though many acknowledged that family-focused practice was important. Some questioned whether being family focused was part of their role with other barriers related to funding. Most expressed a need for training, though some indicated that they would not engage in a family-focused manner nor be trained in this approach, unless it was compulsory. The study highlights the missed opportunity for family-focused practices in primary care settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the need for an "authorising" environment in which family-focused practices are not only supported but expected.
authors: a Faculty of Education , Krongold Centre, Monash University , Clayton , Australia .
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Reupert
authors: b Department of Rural and Indigenous Health , School of Rural Health, Monash University , Moe , Australia , and.
authors: Darryl
authors: D
authors: Maybery
authors: c Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) National Initiative , Adelaide , Australia.
authors: Bradley
authors: B
authors: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Family; parental mental illness; primary care