Registrar attitudes to mental health care provision--does level one training make a difference?

This study was designed to demonstrate whether compulsory level one mental health training leads to a change in knowledge, skills and attitudes for general practice registrars.

All registrars in the pilot level one course completed an attitudinal questionnaire and a case based check program before and after training. Registrars also completed a participant satisfaction instrument.

All registrars showed a positive shift in attitudinal and knowledge indicators following training. The degree of change did not relate to their initial scores.

Mental health provides a useful model of chronic and complex care. The three step model of assessment, planning and review can be generalised to other high prevalence illnesses. The provision of level one training addresses specific barriers to general practice mental health care and may influence registrar interest in continuing mental health education. Consideration should be given to making level one mental health training a compulsory component of vocational training. Evidence would be strengthened by examining registrars' clinical behaviour and patient outcomes before and after training.