Pathways to psychiatric care in urban north China: A general hospital based study

Weijun Zhang, Xuemei Li, Yan Lin, Xiulan Zhang, Zhiyong Qu, Xiaohua Wang, Huiwen Xu, Alvina Jiao, Mengqi Guo, Yurong Zhang, Yafang Li, Donghua Tian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Pathway studies highlight the help-seeking behaviors of patients with physical and mental illnesses. A number of studies in this field have been completed in various parts of the world. The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of the help-seeking pathways of patients with mental illness from urban north China at Mental Health Professional (MHP).Methods: The pathway diagrams, which accounted for more than five percent of patients, were documented for 441 subjects using the translated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) pathway encounter form. The patterns and durations of care-seeking were analyzed in different diagnostic groups. The χ2-test and the Mann-Whitney U test were employed, as needed.Results: Respondents visited the MHP through a variety of pathways. Approximately three-quarters of the patients took an indirect pathway (74.8% vs 25.2%, χ2 = 108.8, p < 0.0001), and on average, each patient consulted 3.4 caregivers. The vast majority of patients first visited local tertiary general hospitals (56.4% vs 4.1%, χ2 = 138.3, p < 0.0001) or local secondary general hospitals (24.8% vs 4.1%, χ2 = 40.96, p < 0.0001). However, only 9.6% of patients were diagnosed with mental disorders for the patients who first visited non-psychiatric hospitals. Of the patients who first contacted with psychiatry hospital, 55.6% received a professional diagnosis and finally reached the MHP because of the poor treatment or high-cost medical care.Conclusions: The majority of patients seek other pathways than to go to MHP directly and this may be due to stigma, and/or lack of knowledge. The study gives emphasis on the importance of improving skills and knowledge that will facilitate the recognition of psychiatric disorders in the community health centers, the general hospitals system and by private practitioners. The pathway described by this study may be helpful while preparing mental health programs in the future.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number22
JournalInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Help-seeking pathways
  • Mental health professional
  • Patients with mental illness
  • Psychiatric care
  • Urban north China

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Phychiatric Mental Health
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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