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The Effects of Primary Care Behavioral Health in Primary Care in Sweden

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Primary Health Care
Mental Disorder
Behavioral Symptoms
Interventions
Behavioral: Implementation of the service delivery model primary care behavioral health
Registration Number
NCT05633940
Lead Sponsor
Region Östergötland
Brief Summary

The novel multi-professional service delivery model "Primary Care Behavioural Health" (PCBH) has been suggested as an effective way to integrate behavioural health services into routine primary care to overcome the growing problems with psychosocial and mental health problems in primary care. In this multicenter mixed-methods pragmatic clinical trial, the implementation of PCBH in routine primary health care in a region in Sweden is investigated.

Detailed Description

Psychosocial and mental health problems is a growing public health concern and challenge for primary care where resources are scarce. The multi-professional novel service delivery model "Primary Care Behavioural Health" (PCBH) has been suggested as an effective way to integrate behavioural health services into routine primary care. The model offer high accessibility to brief interventions, is clinically intuitively attractive and has been disseminated in primary care organizations globally, as well as in Sweden. However, more research is needed on its effect and implementation in routine care. The objective is to investigate the effect of the new service delivery model PCBH on organization- staff- and patient outcomes, and to investigate the implementation of PCBH in terms of how and to which degree the new way of working is normalised in practice routines. This multicenter mixed-methods interventional study is designed as a controlled pragmatic clinical trial. The effect of PCBH will be investigated on organizational, staff and patient levels. Variables include waiting lists, symptoms, medication prescriptions, quality of life and working environment aspects. Study participants will be patients, staff and managers at the included primary care centers. Implementation of PCBH will be investigated regarding the implementation process and degree of implementation. Data will be both qualitative (individual interviews) and quantitative (registers, biomarkers and questionnaires). At least 24 intervention centers will be compared to an equal number of control centers. The research project will be conducted in several regions in Sweden during a period of 4 years. PCBH seems to offer a solution the challenges in modern primary care, but evidence is low. This study will provide much-needed clinically meaningful data regarding PCBH that hopefully could be used for future development of primary healthcare.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
500
Inclusion Criteria

• Health care professionals employed at a participating centre.

Exclusion Criteria

• Temporarily hired personnel, e.g. hired doctors or nurses on weekly basis.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ImplementationImplementation of the service delivery model primary care behavioral healthThe centers that implement PCBH.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Accessibility at the health care center, measured in number of visitsBaseline to 24 months.

Number of visits to health care professionals treating patients for mental health issues (i.e. behavioral health consultants and physicians).

Functional level of the patients.Baseline to 24 months.

Measured by Sheehan disability scale.

Work environment among the medical staffBaseline to 24 months.

Measured by the COPSOQ III questionnaire , which is an instrument that measures psychosocial factors, stress, and the well-being of employees.

Experience of primary care behavioral health among the medical staffBaseline to 24 months.

Data will be collected through qualitative interviews.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Symptoms of anxiety in the patients.2 years from baseline (first visit to a health care professional due to a mental health issue, therafter after 6, 12 and 24 months).

Measured by Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), on a scale from 0-21, where higher points means higher risk for anxiety.

Referrals to psychiatric careIn total 3 years: one year before baseline (baseline: when implementation starts), thereafter during 2 year from baseline.

The number of patients with mental health issues who are referred to psychiatric specialist care.

Accessibility at the health care center, measured in waiting times.In total 3 years: one year before baseline (baseline: when implementation starts), thereafter during 2 year from baseline.

Waiting times to first visit to health care professionals treating patients for mental health issues (i.e. behavioral health consultants and physicians).

Quality of life of the patients.2 years from baseline (first visit to a health care professional due to a mental health issue, therafter after 6, 12 and 24 months).

Measured by Euroqol 5 dimensions 5 levels, on a scale from 1 to 5 on each item where 1 means no problems and 5 means severe problems.

Work commitment among the medical staff2 years in total: at baseline, therafter at 6, 12 and 24 months.

Measured by the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, where higher points mean higher work engagement.

Symptoms of depression in the patients2 years from baseline (first visit to a health care professional due to a mental health issue, therafter after 6, 12 and 24 months).

Measured by the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) on a scale from 0-27, where higher points means higher risk for depression.

Fidelity to the core components among the medical staff2 years in total: at baseline, therafter at 6, 12 and 24 months.

Measured by a questionnaire incorporating typical features of work according to primary care behavioral health.

Medical treatment of patients due to mental health issuesIn total 3 years: one year before baseline (baseline: when implementation starts), thereafter during 2 year from baseline.

Number of patients who are prescribed psychotropic drugs (ATC codes: N05A, N05B, N05C and N06A).

Sick leave of patients due to mental health issuesIn total 3 years: one year before baseline (baseline: when implementation starts), thereafter during 2 year from baseline.

Number of patients who are on sick leave due to mental health issues (defined as sick leave due to one or more F- or Z-diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes in the F00-F99, Z56, Z63 and Z73 sections.

Exhaustion among the medical staff2 years in total: at baseline, therafter at 6, 12 and 24 months.

Measured by the Karolinska exhaustion disorder scale (KEDS), where higher points indicate higher risk for exhaustion disorder.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Primärvårdscentrum

🇸🇪

Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden

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