Objective: The current study explored the perceptions of General Practitioners (GPs) on barriers to care for dementia patients, reasons for referring them to tertiary hospitals for dementia-related symptoms, and the types of training and support that GPs would like to have to provide better dementia care in Singapore.Method: A total of 400 respondents completed the barriers to care in dementia management and training needs questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 52.3 percent. An invitation letter with a web link to the online survey form and a hardcopy of the questionnaires were mailed to GP clinics. The survey form was completed either online or by mailing back the hardcopy questionnaire. Results: Most GPs (n=391; 98 percent) agreed that the main barrier was that dementia patients tend to require more consultation time. The most common reason cited by GPs (n= 327; 82 percent) for referring patients to tertiary hospitals was the severity of symptoms. Out of 226 GPs who were agreeable to managing dementia patients, 75 percent (n=170) of them identified the fact that having direct access to a multidisciplinary team would support them in providing dementia care. Web-based training on the management of dementia patients (n=148; 65 percent) was the top training need recognised. Conclusion: GPs play a crucial role in managing dementia care in Singapore. The main difficulty they face is the longer consultation that a dementia patient requires and the need for support through multidisciplinary care. Web-based training programmes on diagnosis and management of dementia patients would address GPs’ uncertainties and equip them to better promote dementia care in Singapore.

Attitude ; Employment ; Humans ; Mental Disorders/therapy* ; Mental Health

INTRODUCTION: This paper aims to examine the (1) level of positive mental health (PMH), (2) identify the socio-demographic correlates of the PMH domains in the general population, and (3) establish if employment status moderates the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and PMH among those with a lifetime prevalence of MDD. METHODS: The Singapore Mental Health Study conducted between 2016 and 2018 included Singapore residents aged ≥18 years. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 was utilised to establish lifetime prevalence of MDD. Moderation analysis was conducted using SPSS PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2017) to assess if employment status moderated the relationship between MDD and PMH. RESULTS: Significantly lower PMH total and domain scores were reported by respondents (n=2,270) who endorsed lifetime MDD compared to those who did not. Moderation analysis demonstrated that the effect of MDD on PMH total and domain scores varied considerably across employment status. Based on the interaction plots, the effect of MDD on both PMH total and domain scores was minimal among those employed than unemployed. CONCLUSION Healthcare professionals should support the employment needs of those who report lifetime MDD to provide care for an individual's mental well-being in a holistic manner. Acquiring or remaining in employment would be a priority depending on the PMH of the individual. Reducing barriers to employment for those with health issues or creating employment opportunities for this group are concerns that need to be addressed at a societal level.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology* ; Employment ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Prevalence ; Unemployment

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field of study that investigates the role of diet and nutrition in mental health. Studies conducted in the general population have linked depressive symptoms with poor dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to characterise the dietary intake and analyse the dietary pattern using the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) in a sample of psychiatric patients in a multiethnic Asian nation. METHODS: Participants were recruited from an outpatient clinic and an inpatient unit at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. Self-reported dietary habits of a sample of psychiatric patients (N=380) were analysed using DASH. To examine the variables associated with DASH scores, a linear regression was conducted with the full sample and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Persons with depressive disorders had a mean DASH score of 21.3 (±4.2), while persons with psychotic disorders had a mean DASH score of 21.2 (±4.9). Respondents who were older (B=1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-2.96, CONCLUSION Dietary patterns of persons with mental disorders were characterised. A host of sociodemographic factors, and not diagnosis of mental disorders, influenced the dietary quality of people with depressive and psychotic disorders. Clinicians treating psychiatric patients need to be aware of the nuanced reasons behind poor dietary choices and provide targeted psychoeducation to specific subgroups within the patient population.

The number of people living with dementia is increasing globally as a result of an ageing population. General practitioners (GPs), as the front-line care providers in communities, are important stakeholders in the system of care for people with dementia. This commentary describes a study conducted to understand GPs' attitudes and self-perceived competencies when dealing with patients with dementia and their caregivers in Singapore. A set of study information sheet and survey questionnaires were mailed to selected GP clinics in Singapore. The survey, comprising the "GP Attitudes and Competencies Towards Dementia" questionnaire, was administered. A total of 400 GPs returned the survey, giving the study a response rate of 52.3%. About 74% of the GPs (n=296) were seeing dementia patients in their clinics. Almost all the GPs strongly agreed that early recognition of dementia served the welfare of the patients (n=385; 96%) and their relatives (n=387; 97%). About half (51.5%) of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they felt confident carrying out an early diagnosis of dementia. Factor analysis of questionnaire revealed 4 factors representing "benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of patients with dementia", "confidence in dealing with patients and caregiver of dementia", "negative perceptions towards dementia care" and "training needs". GPs in Singapore held a generally positive attitude towards the need for early dementia diagnosis but were not equally confident or comfortable about making the diagnosis themselves and communicating with and managing patients with dementia in the primary care setting. Dementia education and training should therefore be a critical step in equipping GPs for dementia care in Singapore. Shared care teams could further help build up GPs' knowledge, confidence and comfort in managing patients with dementia.
Attitude of Health Personnel ; Caregivers ; psychology ; Clinical Competence ; Dementia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; General Practitioners ; psychology ; Humans ; Self Efficacy ; Singapore ; Surveys and Questionnaires