| Description |
Background: Mental illness is a major healthcare problem. Depression is the leading cause of premature death and disability among adults aged 18-44 worldwide. In the United States, 21% of adults are afflicted by a mental illness. Ketamine therapy is a promising treatment for many mood disorders including treatment-resistant depression, yet is underutilized in US healthcare. Purpose: This project aimed to explore the perspectives of primary care providers and mental health providers toward ketamine therapy. Implementation: Surveys and an educational presentation were developed to identify providers' perspectives of ketamine therapy before and after education. These were distributed to primary care practices and mental health practices from the 84015 ZIP code and surrounding areas. The surveys included open-ended qualitative questions and quantitative questions using Likert scales to evaluate views. Results: A small number of providers participated, limiting generalizability of results. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate changes in quantitative responses, finding an increased rating of familiarity with ketamine and its psychoactive effects, as well as increased perception of safety, though there was a decreased likelihood to recommend ketamine therapy for patients or to utilize for themselves or loved ones among medical providers. Qualitative analysis was done in an iterative review revealing themes associated with ketamine in participants perspectives, with medical terminology comprising the bulk of initial perspectives and shifting post-education responses toward different themes. Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that medical providers may be less inclined to recommend ketamine therapy after education discussing its psychoactive effects despite evidence of its efficacy, whereas mental health providers show much more openness to both aspects. Future research should aim to clarify factors influencing this discrepancy and to develop more effective educational approaches. |
