1. Essential Integrated Behavioral Health Care Skills for Primary Care Providers: A Delphi Study
- Author
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Martin, Matthew P., Harrell, Susan, Lutgen, Cory, Manson, Lesley, Tshuma, Lisa, and Wade, Ann
- Subjects
Behavioral health care -- Methods ,Primary health care -- Management ,Employee development -- Management ,Medical personnel -- Training ,Company business management ,Family and marriage ,Health ,Psychology and mental health - Abstract
Introduction: Workforce development is a vital process for advancing the field of integrated behavioral health in primary care (IBHPC) and depends on the development of job-specific skills that meet the needs of patients and other team members. Job-specific skills guide both university- and worksite-based training programs in preparing future cohorts of health care professionals in IBHPC; however, there are no extant training criteria for nontrainee primary care providers. Method: A multiround survey using a modified Delphi technique was conducted. Participants were recruited from a large national research network, university alumni and community health center partners. Participants included allopathic and osteopathic physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners serving as primary care providers in a variety of IBHPC settings. In the survey, participants were instructed to categorize 22 skills as 'Essential,' 'Compatible,' or 'Irrelevant' for IBHPC practice. Categorized responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comments were analyzed using a modified thematic analysis method. Results: Fifty-four participants were recruited for the study, with 43 participating in round 1, 38 participating in round 2, and 36 participating in round 3. After 3 rounds, 19 skills received at least 80% consensus as 'Essential' and 22 received at least 50% consensus as 'Essential.' Comment themes revealed participants were overall agreeable with skills, but had concerns about role, training, and time constraints. Discussion: Primary care providers can prepare for and enhance IBHPC practice by developing skills identified as essential. Employers can adapt this skill list for efforts related to recruiting, hiring, and onboarding. Keywords: integrated primary care, workforce development, medical providers, Delphi survey, Workforce development is an essential part of accelerating the adoption of integrated behavioral health in primary care (IBHPC) and improving extant programs. Enhanced training for primary care providers (PCPs; i.e., [...]
- Published
- 2022
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