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Cited by 340Psychiatric care and mental health servicesMental Health Treatment and AccessPrimary Care and Health Outcomes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Patients' and health professionals' views on primary care for people with serious mental illness: focus group study

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Lester, Helen, Tritter, Jonathan Q, Sorohan, Helen·2005·BMJ
DOI 10.1136/bmj.38440.418426.8fPMC PMC557894
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of providing and receiving primary care from the perspectives of primary care health professionals and patients with serious mental illness respectively. DESIGN: Qualitative study consisting of six patient groups, six health professional groups, and six combined focus groups. SETTING: Six primary care trusts in the West Midlands. PARTICIPANTS: Forty five patients with serious mental illness, 39 general practitioners (GPs), and eight practice nurses. RESULTS: Most health professionals felt that the care of people with serious mental illness was too specialised for primary care. However, most patients viewed primary care as the cornerstone of their health care and preferred to consult their own GP, who listened and was willing to learn, rather than be referred to a different GP with specific mental health knowledge. Swift access was important to patients, with barriers created by the effects of the illness and the noisy or crowded waiting area. Some patients described how they exaggerated symptoms ("acted up") to negotiate an urgent appointment, a strategy that was also employed by some GPs to facilitate admission to secondary care. Most participants felt that structured reviews of care had value. However, whereas health professionals perceived serious mental illness as a lifelong condition, patients emphasised the importance of optimism in treatment and hope for recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care is of central importance to people with serious mental illness. The challenge for health professionals and patients is to create a system in which patients can see a health professional when they want to without needing to exaggerate their symptoms. The importance that patients attach to optimism in treatment, continuity of care, and listening skills compared with specific mental health knowledge should encourage health professionals in primary care to play a greater role in the care of patients with serious mental illness.

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  1. [23]23. Pollock K, Grime J. Patients' perceptions of entitlement to time in general practice con- sultations for depression: qualitative study. BMJ 2002;325:1431-3.

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Metadata

Authors
Lester, H., Tritter, J. Q., & Sorohan, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
  • University of Warwick (GB)
  • University College Birmingham (GB)
ORCID
Tritter, Jonathan Q
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2005-04-20
Volume
330
Issue
7500
Pages
1122
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
DOI
10.1136/bmj.38440.418426.8f
PMC
PMC557894
OpenAlex
W1822286663
Cited by
339
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 32
FWCI
12.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.bmj.org/licenses/tdm/1.0/terms-and-conditions.html (tdm)
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (acceptedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
Keywords
severe mental illness, primary care, patient perspectives, health professional perspectives, general practitioners, practice nurses, health care access, waiting time, symptom exaggeration, secondary care referral, continuity of care, listening skills
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude of Health Personnel, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Chronic Disease, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Family, Primary Health Care, Focus Groups

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