384
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Perceptions of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services Integration Among the Workforce in Primary Care Settings

, , , , , , , , & show all
Pages 292-298 | Published online: 24 Sep 2012
 

Abstract

It is important to understand the perceptions of staff members who will be implementing the expected integration of mental health and substance use services into primary care. Surveys were administered to mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD) staff, support staff (SS), and primary care providers (PCPs) from three organizations (seven sites) that were participating in an initiative to promote the integration of MH/SUD services into primary care in Kern County, California. Results suggest that integration and MH/SUD services are highly valued among all staff types, and that staff are uniformly interested in further MH/SUD training. However, there were significant differences in staff perceptions. MH/SUD staff and services were valued by PCPs more than MH/SUD staff perceived being valued by PCPs, and MH/SUD staff were less likely to agree that communication with PCPs was good. Information seemed to flow better from MH/SUD staff to PCPs than in the other direction.

Notes

1. These services are commonly referred to as “behavioral health” services. However, often the term “behavioral health” is used to describe mental health services only in the absence of substance use disorder services. Therefore, to emphasize the equal existence of both types of services, we use the term MH/SUD in this article.

2. MH/SUD staff were asked if they agreed that “As a behavioral health consultant, you are able to provide the kinds of services you want for your patients.” PCPs were asked if they agreed that “The behavioral health consultant(s) provides the kinds of services you want for your patients.”

3. MH/SUD staff were asked if they agreed that “Primary healthcare providers value the kind of services behavioral health staff at my clinic provide for patients.” SS and PCP staff were asked if they agreed that “The behavioral health staff provide the kinds of services I want for my patients.”

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 94.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.