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The following is a summary of “Evaluation of enhanced mental and behavioral health training for family medicine residents: a research protocol,” published in the December 2024 issue of Primary Care by Elena Gardner et al.
The mental and behavioral health treatment gap in the US is a significant public health issue. Family medicine providers are uniquely positioned to address this gap by integrating mental and behavioral health (MBH) care in primary settings.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the University of Utah Family Medicine Residency’s (UUFMR) enhanced mental and behavioral health training, aiming to identify improvements and assess outcomes.
They analyzed the current curriculum and best practices, developed or enhanced training with partners, and assessed residents’ and graduates’ confidence in providing MBH care using surveys and interviews.
The results showed gaps in current literature on evaluating provider- and organizational-level outcomes of MBH residency training. They also provided practical guidance for other residents integrating MBH training into their curriculum.
Investigators evaluated the implementation and outcomes of resident education improvements, ensuring efficient use of limited resources. The assessment of training capacity through collaboration supported progress toward an integrated MBH care system in primary care.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02656-2
