OSCAR/STAT-C

Why ?

Common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and burnout are widespread and often managed within primary care. These conditions frequently impact individuals' ability to work and are a leading cause of sick leave. Family physicians (FPs) are the primary prescribers of sick leave and play a critical role in managing their patients' mental health issues and determining the timing and conditions of their return to work. However, FPs often have limited training in work-related issues, and their mental health and occupational health practices can vary considerably. Providing evidence-based tools for managing mental health-related sick leave could help FPs deliver more person- and team-centered care to their patients and promote their recovery and ability to return to work.

Methods

We conducted a participatory action research project to develop and evaluate tools for family physicians using user-centered design approaches. The study was carried out in partnership with two family physicians from the Lévis University Family Medicine Group (GMF-U). An interdisciplinary team (with expertise in family medicine, psychology, occupational therapy, psychiatry, health services research, and lived experience of common mental health disorders) co-designed the tools over several design cycles. The tools were then integrated into the GMF-U's electronic medical record platform and tested by several family physicians and residents. Qualitative interviews were conducted to gather data on physicians' and residents' appreciation of the tools, the factors that influenced tool adoption, and their suggestions for improving the design and usability of the tools.

Results and Impacts

Our team has developed two tools :

A tool to aid in the initial assessment of a person's mental health problems, their professional situation, and their need for sick leave.
A tool to support systematic monitoring during sick leave and preparation for return to work.

Interviews were conducted with 10 family physicians and residents to learn about their experiences with the tools. Experiences with the tools were generally positive, and participants made several recommendations on how the tools could be improved and their adoption facilitated. They also identified a variety of factors that facilitated or hindered their adoption of the tools, including :

The characteristics of the tools
The characteristics of doctors
The context in which the tools are used

Researchers

Matthew Menear, Université Laval

Jean-Daniel Carrier, Université de Sherbrooke

Audrey-Anne Dumais-Michaud, Université Laval

Marie-Thérèse Lussier, Université de Montréal

Chantal Sylvain, Université de Sherbrooke

Research staff and students

Éloi Lachance, VITAM Centre de recherche en santé durable

Annie Plamondon, VITAM Centre de recherche en santé durable

Clinical partners

Cynthia Cameron, GMF-U de Lévis

Kathleen Lemieux, GMF-U de Lévis

People with experiential knowledge

Patrick Ayotte

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Research Projects

OSCAR/STAT-C

Methods

Goals