Barriers to the Collaborative Care of Patients with Orofacial Injury

Abstract

Collaborative care interventions demonstrate significant promise in facilitating integrative care which addresses both the physical and mental health needs of orofacial trauma patients. Ensuring the successful implementation of collaborative care interventions depends on having an adequate understanding of the potential barriers to the provision and receipt of mental health services within specific clinical settings. The present paper reviews recent findings on patient and provider perceptions of barriers to psychosocial aftercare services in oral and maxillofacial trauma care settings. Interestingly, these findings indicate that both patients and providers recognize the need for psychosocial aftercare, but report substantial barriers to services. Among patients, structural barriers such as not knowing where to obtain services and financial cost are major obstacles. Among providers, structural barriers also serve as significant impediments to the provision of psychosocial services. Some of the most common structural barriers reported by providers include a shortage of financial resources, trained clinical staff, and space. Although collaborative care interventions may be well-suited to capitalize on both patient and provider interest in psychosocial aftercare programs, further research is needed to determine the viability of this promising aftercare model within oral and maxillofacial trauma care settings.