A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context
Summary: Background: Little is known about the practices and resources employed by general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore to manage late-life depression. As the country is stepping up its efforts to promote collaborative care across community mental health and geriatric care, understanding GPs’ c...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002748 |
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| author | Anna Szücs V Vien Lee Laurie J. Goldsmith Alicia H. Ong Tim J. Hart Victor W.K. Loh Monica Lazarus Choon Kit Leong Vivien M.E. Lee Foon Leng Leong Doris Young Andrea B. Maier Jose M. Valderas |
| author_facet | Anna Szücs V Vien Lee Laurie J. Goldsmith Alicia H. Ong Tim J. Hart Victor W.K. Loh Monica Lazarus Choon Kit Leong Vivien M.E. Lee Foon Leng Leong Doris Young Andrea B. Maier Jose M. Valderas |
| author_sort | Anna Szücs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: Little is known about the practices and resources employed by general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore to manage late-life depression. As the country is stepping up its efforts to promote collaborative care across community mental health and geriatric care, understanding GPs’ current practices when managing late-life depression appears timely. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives on late-life depression of 28 private GPs practicing in Singapore through online semi-structured group and individual interviews. GPs were purposively sampled across age, gender, and ethnicity. Analysis followed a reflexive thematic approach and focused on physician- and system-related factors. Findings: Clinical instinct, experience, and knowledge of appropriate resources for specific patients played an important role for GPs during late-life depression care. GPs paid particular attention to communicating with patients tactfully during initial assessments and diagnosis, although some GPs chose to be upfront with patients with whom they had already established rapport. Using non-English languages when communicating about depression could mitigate stigma in some cases but added confusion in others. GPs relied primarily on their own professional support network to manage late-life depression. Although GPs acknowledged the usefulness of public care services, they felt that collaborative care was hindered by a lack of efficient communication channels between providers and appropriate financial coverage to coordinate the frequently complex care of depressed older adults. Interpretation: Current resources and practices to manage late-life depression vary greatly between private GPs in Singapore. This needs to be considered during ongoing reforms to achieve effective collaborative care. Funding: This work was funded by the Division of Family Medicine Research Capabilities Building Budget under the project “Technology and Compassion: Improving Patient Outcomes Through Data Analytics and Patients’ Voice in Primary Care” [NUHSRO/2022/049/NUSMed/DFM]. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02af590b289b46988c6d1a7c4c9cfe10 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-6065 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific |
| spelling | doaj-art-02af590b289b46988c6d1a7c4c9cfe102025-01-05T04:28:43ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652025-01-0154101280A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in contextAnna Szücs0V Vien Lee1Laurie J. Goldsmith2Alicia H. Ong3Tim J. Hart4Victor W.K. Loh5Monica Lazarus6Choon Kit Leong7Vivien M.E. Lee8Foon Leng Leong9Doris Young10Andrea B. Maier11Jose M. Valderas12Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore; Corresponding author. Division of Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUS Tower Block Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228, Singapore.Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, SingaporeDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands; Centre for Healthy Longevity, @AgeSingapore, National University Health System, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Research in Health Systems Performance (CRiHSP), National University of Singapore, SingaporeSummary: Background: Little is known about the practices and resources employed by general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore to manage late-life depression. As the country is stepping up its efforts to promote collaborative care across community mental health and geriatric care, understanding GPs’ current practices when managing late-life depression appears timely. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives on late-life depression of 28 private GPs practicing in Singapore through online semi-structured group and individual interviews. GPs were purposively sampled across age, gender, and ethnicity. Analysis followed a reflexive thematic approach and focused on physician- and system-related factors. Findings: Clinical instinct, experience, and knowledge of appropriate resources for specific patients played an important role for GPs during late-life depression care. GPs paid particular attention to communicating with patients tactfully during initial assessments and diagnosis, although some GPs chose to be upfront with patients with whom they had already established rapport. Using non-English languages when communicating about depression could mitigate stigma in some cases but added confusion in others. GPs relied primarily on their own professional support network to manage late-life depression. Although GPs acknowledged the usefulness of public care services, they felt that collaborative care was hindered by a lack of efficient communication channels between providers and appropriate financial coverage to coordinate the frequently complex care of depressed older adults. Interpretation: Current resources and practices to manage late-life depression vary greatly between private GPs in Singapore. This needs to be considered during ongoing reforms to achieve effective collaborative care. Funding: This work was funded by the Division of Family Medicine Research Capabilities Building Budget under the project “Technology and Compassion: Improving Patient Outcomes Through Data Analytics and Patients’ Voice in Primary Care” [NUHSRO/2022/049/NUSMed/DFM].http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002748Late-life depressionDepression managementSingaporePrimary careOld ageFamily medicine |
| spellingShingle | Anna Szücs V Vien Lee Laurie J. Goldsmith Alicia H. Ong Tim J. Hart Victor W.K. Loh Monica Lazarus Choon Kit Leong Vivien M.E. Lee Foon Leng Leong Doris Young Andrea B. Maier Jose M. Valderas A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific Late-life depression Depression management Singapore Primary care Old age Family medicine |
| title | A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context |
| title_full | A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context |
| title_short | A qualitative study on general practitioners’ perspectives on late-life depression in Singapore—part II: system- and physician-related factorsResearch in context |
| title_sort | qualitative study on general practitioners perspectives on late life depression in singapore part ii system and physician related factorsresearch in context |
| topic | Late-life depression Depression management Singapore Primary care Old age Family medicine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002748 |
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