Quality of care for anxiety and depression in different ethnic groups by family practitioners in urban areas in the Netherlands

Fassaert, Thijs; Nielen, Mark; Verheij, Robert; Verhoeff, Arnoud; Dekker, Jack; Beekman, Aartjan; de Wit, Matty

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.04.010

« Previous Next »General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 368-376, July 2010

Quality of care for anxiety and depression in different ethnic groups by family practitioners in urban areas in the Netherlands

Thijs Fassaert, M.Sc.
- Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Municipal Health Service, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. GGD Amsterdam, Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, P.O. Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 (0)20 555 5026; fax: +31 (0)20 555 5160.
Mark Nielen, Ph.D.
- NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands
Robert Verheij, Ph.D.
- NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands
Arnoud Verhoeff, Ph.D.
- Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Municipal Health Service, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, 1012 DK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jack Dekker, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychology, VU University, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Section of Research and Development, Arkin, 1062 XD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Aartjan Beekman, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- GGZ inGeest, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Matty de Wit, Ph.D.
- Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Municipal Health Service, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Received 12 February 2010; accepted 30 April 2010.

Abstract

Objective

There is widespread concern about access to good quality health care for ethnic minority groups. This study investigates differences between ethnic groups regarding prevalence of anxiety and depression, and adherence to treatment guidelines by family practitioners in urban areas in the Netherlands.

Method

Data from electronic medical records, collected for the Netherlands Information Network of General Practice. Diagnoses were based on the International Classification of Primary Care. Adherence to guidelines included at least five consultations, prescription of psychotropics for 6 weeks at most (indicative of cessation in case of nonresponse) or 5 months at least (suggesting continuation in case of response), and/or a referral to a mental health care specialist. Data were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 6413 patients (4.4% of practice population) were diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression. Prevalence was highest in Turkish patients (5.2%). Of diagnosed patients, 42.9% received guideline-concordant treatment. Only Surinamese/Antillean patients were less likely than ethnic Dutch to receive treatments according to guidelines.

Conclusion

Prevalence of and quality of care for anxiety and depression were comparable between ethnic minority clients, but some differences suggest that efforts to educate primary care providers in management of anxiety/depression should be continued and tailored to specific ethnic groups.

Keywords: Common mental disorders, Ethnic minority groups, Family practitioners, Urban areas, Netherlands