HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ryan, F. S. Articles by Cunningham, S. J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ryan, F. S. Articles by Cunningham, S. J

A qualitative study of orthognathic patients’ perceptions of referral to a mental health professional: Part 2—a questionnaire study

Eastman Dental Hospital, London, UK

Address for correspondence: Fiona Siobhan Ryan, Eastman Dental Hospital, London, UK. Email: fionaryan25{at}hotmail.com

	Abstract

Objectives: There is evidence to suggest that clinicians are reluctant to refer orthognathic patients for psychological evaluation due to fear of the patient reacting badly to the suggestion. The aim of this study was to assess orthognathic patients’ perceptions of referral to a psychiatrist/psychologist using a previously developed patient-centred questionnaire.

Methods: The study was divided into two parts. Stage 1 (presented previously) involved developing the questionnaire using qualitative methodology and stage 2 involved distribution of the questionnaire to 63 orthognathic patients. This paper describes the findings of stage 2.

Setting: UCLH Foundation Trust.

Results: The majority of patients viewed referral to a psychiatrist/psychologist positively (95.2%), the main benefits being having someone neutral to talk to who could explain and prepare them for treatment. Patients said they would prefer the referral to be made by the clinician they are most familiar with and to see the psychiatrist/psychologist on a one-to-one basis (79.4%) in an environment they are familiar with. The main perceived drawback of seeing a psychiatrist was the inconvenience of an additional visit.

Conclusions: Fear of the patient reacting badly to being referred to a mental health professional appears to be unfounded in this study of patients from a large teaching hospital and should not prevent clinicians referring patients whom they think would benefit from this.

Key words: Questionnaire, qualitative research, patients’ perceptions, mental health professional