|
How new course will benefit patients: Lower costs, no delay in treatment
A NEW course to be offered to general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore aims to train them in identifying and treating patients with minor mental health problems.
Few GPs here are qualified to detect and treat patients suffering from problems such as mild anxiety and depression, said Dr Joshua Kua, senior consultant psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
This could lead to mental health cases going undetected, or a “clog-up” at the specialist services level as these patients are usually referred there instead, added Dr Kua, who heads IMH’s department of geriatric psychiatry.
With the bulk of mental health issues being minor ones that do not require a psychiatrist to diagnose and treat, Dr Kua said: “If someone sees a trained GP for a minor mental health problem, he will get treatment without having to wait for an appointment to see a specialist that will incur more costs and a delay in terms of treatment.”
The one-year diploma course, offered by IMH and the National University of Singapore, will provide a structured training programme for GPs in psychiatry and counselling.
The course, which covers six modules, each taking two months to complete, will include journal discussions and a clinical attachment at a hospital to gain hands-on experience.
Upon completing the course, GPs will be able to pick up symptoms and assess the severity of the condition of patients suffering from mental health problems.
They would be able to treat them on the spot, or, in cases where the patient may be suicidal or severely depressed, they can refer him to a specialist for treatment. Applications for the course close next month, and 30 GPs have expressed interest in it so far. It will offer 15 places for the first cohort.
Dr Yeap Eng Hooi, 58, a GP at Bedok Life Clinic, said 10 per cent to 15 per cent of his patients suffer from anxiety-related illnesses such as sleeping disorders and mild cases of depression, which do not require seeing a specialist.
“They are reluctant to see a psychologist or specialist because their situation is not serious and they are more comfortable seeing a GP. It also costs them more money to see a specialist,” he said.
Dr Yeap, who has been practising for 30 years, said that he has basic training in counselling such patients, but feels that he could learn more to manage them better in terms of assessing the severity of their illness and providing good counselling.
This has prompted him to apply for the diploma programme.
“I see a lot of cases where patients are under academic, work or family stress and they need psychological counselling,” he said. “This type of course will give me additional knowledge and skills to help them.”
|