EVALUATION OF A TRAINING PACKAGE IN THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION IN PRIMARY-CARE

This study aimed to evaluate the impact on the behaviour and attitudes of experienced general practitioners of a 10-hour training package in the assessment and management of depression. Twenty general practitio ners participated. Both subjective and objective assessments were carr ied out which suggested significant improvements in both assessment an d management skills. However, subjectively reported changes were not a lways supported by the objective data obtained from rating role-played interviews. The role-played patients rated the doctors as better comm unicators after training. All participants felt attending the course w as beneficial. They all felt more confident in their abilities to deal with depression and said the skills they had learnt on the course wou ld be useful to them in their future work. An outcome study is now und erway in order to assess whether the training package, which has been demonstrated to have an impact on the behaviour, skills and attitudes of doctors, has an impact on the health of patients.