Patients' perspectives on the use of the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale self-assessment version in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current study was to better understand how patients with depression perceive the use of MADRS-S in primary care consultations with GPs.


METHODS
Qualitative study. Focus group discussion and analysis through Systematic Text Condensation.


METHODS
Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.


METHODS
Nine patients with mild/moderate depression who participated in a RCT evaluating the effects of regular use of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Self-assessment scale (MADRS-S) during the GP consultations.


METHODS
Patients' experiences and perceptions of the use of MADRS-S in primary care.


RESULTS
Three categories emerged from the analysis: (I) confirmation; MADRS-S shows that I have depression and how serious it is, (II) centeredness; the most important thing is for the GP to listen to and take me seriously and (III) clarification; MADRS-S helps me understand why I need treatment for depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of MADRS-S was perceived as a confirmation for the patients that they had depression and how serious it was. MADRS-S showed the patients something black on white that describes and confirms the diagnosis. The informants emphasized the importance of patient-centeredness; of being listened to and to be taken seriously during the consultation. Use of self-assessment scales such as MADRS-S could find its place, but needs to adjust to the multifaceted environment that primary care provides. Key Points Patients with depression in primary care perceive that the use of a self-assessment scale in the consultation purposefully can contribute in several ways. The scale contributes to Confirmation: MADRS-S shows that I have depression and how serious it is. Centeredness: The most important thing is for the GP to listen to and take me seriously. Clarification: MADRS-S helps me understand why I need treatment for depression.
a Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Primary Health Care , Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.|b Närhälsan Research and Development Primary Health Care , Region Västra Götaland , Sweden.
Carl
C
Wikberg
c Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm.|d Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU) , Stockholm.
Agneta
A
Pettersson
e Centre for Family Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden.
Jeanette
J
Westman
a Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Primary Health Care , Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Cecilia
C
Björkelund
a Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Primary Health Care , Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.|b Närhälsan Research and Development Primary Health Care , Region Västra Götaland , Sweden.
Eva-Lisa
EL
Petersson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
Depression; Sweden; communication; focus group; general practice; primary care; self-assessment scale