Abstract
Objectives: Although depression is a significant public health issue, many individuals experiencing depressive symptoms are not effectively linked to treatment by their primary care provider, with underserved populations have disproportionately lower rates of engagement in depression care. Shared decision making (SDM) is an evidence-based health communication framework that can improve collaboration and optimize treatment for patients, but there is much unknown about how to translate SDM into primary care depression treatment among underserved communities. This study seeks to explore patients' experiences of SDM, and articulate communication and decision-making preferences among an underserved patient population receiving depression treatment in an urban, safety net primary care clinic.Methods: Twenty-seven patients with a depressive disorder completed a brief, quantitative survey and an in-depth semi-structured interview. Surveys measured patient demographics and their subjective experience of SDM. Qualitative interview probed for patients' communication preferences, including ideal decision-making processes around depression care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Univariate statistics report quantitative findings.Results: Overall qualitative and quantitative findings indicate high levels of SDM. Stigma related to depression negatively affected patients' initial attitude toward seeking treatment, and underscored the importance of patient-provider rapport. In terms of communication and decision-making preferences, patients preferred collaboration with doctors during the information sharing process, but desired control over the final, decisional outcome. Trust between patients and providers emerged as a critical precondition to effective SDM. Respondents highlighted several provider behaviors that helped facilitated such an optimal environment for SDM to occur.Conclusion: Underserved patients with depression preferred taking an active role in their depression care, but looked for providers as partner in this process. Due to the stigma of depression, effective SDM first requires primary care providers to ensure that they have created a safe and trusting environment where patients are able to discuss their depression openly.
Highlights
AND RATIONALEDepression is a major public health issue, and remains a leading cause of disability worldwide [1]
Underserved patients with depression preferred taking an active role in their depression care, but looked for providers as partner in this process
Safety net clinics, including those included in this study, refer to practices that predominantly serve patient populations that are uninsured or underinsured, economically disadvantaged, or from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, reflecting underserved groups that have been historically underrepresented in Shared decision making (SDM) literature, and are lease likely to receive care for depression
Summary
AND RATIONALEDepression is a major public health issue, and remains a leading cause of disability worldwide [1]. Current estimates indicate that as few as 35% of patients with new depressive episodes initiate treatment [7], and only one in five individuals receive treatment that meets minimum recommended standards care [8], with traditionally underserved populations, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and economically disadvantaged groups, accessing treatment at disproportionately lower rates [9]. Together, this evidence signals an urgent need to improve both access and continuity in depression treatment, among underserved communities. We use the term underserved populations to refer to individuals experiencing poorer outcomes related to depression which includes BIPOC individuals and lower socioeconomic backgrounds
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