Roskar S, Podlesek A, Zorko M, Tavcar R, Dernovsek MZ, Groleger U, Mirjanic M, Konec N, Janet E, Marusic A. Effects of training program on recognition and management of depression and suicide risk evaluation for Slovenian primary-care physicians: follow-up study.
Croat Med J 2010;
51:237-42. [PMID:
20564767 DOI:
10.3325/cmj.2010.51.237]
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Abstract
AIM
To implement and evaluate an educational program for primary care physicians on recognition and treatment of depression and suicide prevention.
METHOD
The study was conducted in 3 Slovenian neighboring regions (Celje, Ravne na Koroskem, and Podravska) with similar suicide rates and other health indicators. All primary care physicians from Celje (N=155) and Ravne na Koroskem (N=35) were invited to participate in the educational program on depression treatment and suicide risk recognition. From January to March 2003, approximately half of them (82 out of 190; educational group) attended the program, whereas the other half (108 out of 190; control group 1) and physicians from the Podravska region (N=164; control group 2) did not attend the program. The prescription rates of antidepressants and anxiolytics before and after the intervention were compared between the studied regions. Also, suicide rates three-years before and after the intervention were compared.
RESULTS
From 2002 to 2003, there was a 2.33-fold increase in the rate of antidepressant prescriptions in the educational group (P<0.05) and only 1.28-fold (P<0.05) and 1.34-fold (P<0.05) increase in control groups 1 and 2, respectively. However, the 12% decrease in suicide rate in the intervention regions was not significantly greater than the 4% decrease in the non-intervention region (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our training program was beneficial for primary care physicians' ability to recognize and manage depression. However, there was no significant decrease in local suicide rates.
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