Volume 38, Issue 5 pp. 571-587
RESEARCH ARTICLE

A brief web-based screening plus emotional-disorder health education was associated with improvement of mental health awareness and service-seeking attitudes among patients seeking nonpsychiatric clinical services in China

Yukun Kang

Yukun Kang

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Huiyao Wang

Huiyao Wang

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Xiaojing Li

Xiaojing Li

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Yujie Tao

Yujie Tao

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Xia Yang

Xia Yang

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Wei Deng

Wei Deng

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Jianying Yu

Jianying Yu

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Qian Zhou

Qian Zhou

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Tao Li

Tao Li

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

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Wanjun Guo

Corresponding Author

Wanjun Guo

Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China

Correspondence Wanjun Guo, Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 22 November 2020
Citations: 7

Abstract

Objectives

Low recognition and intervention rates of emotional disorders among nonpsychiatric clinical patients are primarily attributable to poor mental health awareness of patients and a paucity of mental health care resources. This study aims to investigate the association of a resource-saving brief web-based emotional-disorder self-screening plus a health self-education program (BWBED-SS + HSE) with improved mental health awareness and service-seeking attitudes among nonpsychiatric clinical patients.

Method

A sample of 2065 patients seeking health services in nonpsychiatric clinical settings underwent BWBED-SS + HSE using mobile terminals. Participants were defined as being at high risk of anxiety and/or depression according to the optimal cut-off point of ≥11 on the Huaxi emotional-distress index (HEI).

Results

The rate of participants at high risk of anxiety and/or depression was 6.63%. Following participation in the BWBED-SS + HSE, after controlling for demographics, type of hospital, and test time, the rates of participants considering themselves as having an emotional disorder and willing to seek mental health services among those at high risk of anxiety and/or depression increased from 29.93% to 47.45% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.28, p = .002) and from 11.68% to 29.93% (aOR = 3.65, p < .001), respectively.

Conclusions

The BWBED-SS + HSE were associated with improved mental health awareness and service-seeking attitudes among patients seeking nonpsychiatric clinical services in China.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

We are happy to share the data with other researchers for academic use on request under the regulations of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

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