Children's psychosocial problems presenting in a family medicine practice

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2010 Sep;17(3):203-10. doi: 10.1007/s10880-010-9195-2.

Abstract

Primary care physicians have an important role in identifying, treating, and referring children with psychosocial problems. However, there is a limited literature describing whether and how family physicians address psychosocial problems and why parents may not discuss children's problems with physicians. The current study examined how family physicians address psychosocial problems and reasons that parents do not discuss children's psychosocial problems with physicians. Results indicated that there are a variety of reasons involving parents, their perceptions of physicians, and the number of psychosocial problems reported, that may lead to fewer discussions of psychosocial problems.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attitude to Health
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Family Practice / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Midwestern United States / epidemiology
  • Parents / psychology
  • Pediatrics / methods
  • Physicians, Family
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Professional-Family Relations*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires