IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA IN PRIMARY-CARE - ASSESSING LEARNING NEEDS AS A FIRST STEP

Objective: To assess family physician learning needs related to the ca re of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to all family physicians and general practitioners practising in sout hern Alberta. Physicians were asked to indicate the number of patients with schizophrenia cared for, their interest in improving the care th ey provided, their preferred learning methods, and the content they wi shed to learn. Results: A total of 539 surveys were returned for a ret urn rate of 43.8%. Over half of the physicians (53.5%) indicated that they saw 1 to 2 patients with schizophrenia each month. Almost half (4 8.5%) indicated they were somewhat or very interested in increasing th e care provided. Primary learning needs included increasing their know ledge of psychopharmacologic agents and monitoring and adjusting medic ations. Lectures and half-day workshops were the preferred learning me thods. Conclusion: Our study was helpful in identifying the types of e ducation that physicians wanted as well as the duration of the program ming prior to the development of teaching interventions.