背景:全球老年人口正在增加,导致非传染性疾病的患病率更高,包括抑郁症。这种情况通常仍然是未被诊断和未治疗的疾病。
方法:对Buraidah的130名初级保健医生(PCP)进行了一项横断面研究,以评估他们在2023年3月至2024年3月诊断老年抑郁症的实践。伦理委员会批准后,数据是通过自我管理的问卷收集的,输入,清洁,并使用社会科学统计软件包(IBMSPSSStatisticsforWindows,IBM公司,版本21.0,Armonk,NY).获得知情同意,并保持参与者信息的机密性。统计检验,包括卡方检验,用于推理。
结果:在130个PCP中,85.4%(n=111)在临床实践中诊断为抑郁症。在他们的常规实践中使用的最常见的抑郁量表是患者健康问卷(PHQ)-2(70%,n=91),其次是老年抑郁量表(53.8%,n=70)。近26.2%(n=34)的医生回答说,不需要常规实验室检查来诊断抑郁症。关于抑郁症管理的初步计划,近76.2%(n=99)的医师首选非药物治疗.关于老年患者抑郁症诊断的障碍,近76.2%(n=99)提到需要更多关于老年抑郁症的培训,其次是70%的短咨询时间和卫生部指南的需要。在<35岁的年龄组和对高百分比的药物治疗的偏好之间观察到统计学上显著的关联(P<0.05)。
结论:根据研究结果,有相当数量的PCP(85.4%)在他们的诊所诊断抑郁症,四分之三(76.2%)的医生更喜欢非药物治疗。只有四分之一(26.2%)的PCP提到不需要实验室来诊断抑郁症。
BACKGROUND: The global geriatric population is increasing, leading to a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including depression. This condition often remains underdiagnosed and untreated disease.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 primary healthcare physicians (PCPs) in Buraidah to assess their practices in diagnosing geriatric depression from March 2023 to March 2024. After ethical committee approval, data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, entered, cleaned, and analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 21.0, Armonk, NY). Informed consent was obtained and the confidentiality of the participant information was maintained. Statistical tests, including the Chi-square test, were used for inference.
RESULTS: Out of 130 PCPs, 85.4% (n=111) were diagnosing depression during their clinical practice. The most common depression scale used in their regular practice was the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-2 (70%, n=91), followed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (53.8%, n=70). Nearly 26.2% (n=34) of physicians responded that there is no need for routine lab tests for the diagnosis of depression. Concerning the initial plan of depression management, nearly 76.2% (n=99) of physicians preferred non-pharmacological treatment. Regarding barriers to diagnosis of depression in elderly patients, nearly 76.2% (n=99) mentioned the need for more training about geriatric depression, followed by 70% for both short consultation time and the need for Ministry of Health guidelines. There was a statistically significant association observed between <35 years of age group and a preference for a high percentage of pharmacological therapy (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the study, there was a good number (85.4%) of PCPs diagnosing depression in their clinics, and also three-fourths of the physicians (76.2%) preferred non-pharmacological treatment. Only one-fourth (26.2%) of the PCPs mentioned no lab is required for the diagnosis of depression.