[The perception of liaison psychiatry by the medico-chirurgical services]

Research addressing the perception of liaison psychiatry by caregivers is still limited in Morocco. Collaboration between practitioners in liaison psychiatry is necessary, and the perception of physicians influences their implications in liaison psychiatry.

To evaluate the perception of this activity among the various medical and surgical units, determine the involvement, level of collaboration and expectations of practitioners, as well as the difficulties and constraints encountered.

A survey was carried out among medical personnel at the Hassan II University Hospital Centre in Fez in 2016, through a self-questionnaire determining the perception and position of carers with regard to liaison psychiatry. The data are collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, consisting of 27 items. We included in this study a targeted population: interns, residents and professors.

The total population of caregivers participating in this survey was 615 physicians, including 111 professors, 436 residents, and 68 interns. The participation rate was 80.32%. The average age was 30.25 years, with 47.6% (236) women and 52.4% (258) men. The percentage of doctors who obtained their doctorates in medicine in Morocco was 89.3% (85.9% at the Faculty of Medicine in Fez) and 92.3% had received a unique internship in the psychiatry department during their university studies, while 98.7% never received any continuing training in the field of psychiatry. Half of responding physicians reported difficulties in managing psychiatric disorders diagnostically, and 59.5% (292) reported difficulties in treating patients with psychiatric disorders, while 90% (444) reported that they are unable to provide therapeutic follow-up. Only 35.6% of the doctors surveyed were informed about the establishment of liaison psychiatry, but only 10% of these doctors were informed about the procedure for requesting a psychiatric opinion. Faced with a psychiatric disorder, 98% of doctors managed the situation by seeking psychiatric advice, 87.1% considered this request urgent. The reasons for not soliciting q psychiatrist were divided between difficulties in identifying a psychiatric disorder (51%) and difficulties in requesting an opinion (49%).

Our study showed several difficulties perceived by practitioners, whether in the diagnosis, treatment or follow-up of patients with psychiatric manifestations. Collaboration between different practitioners is an indispensable element of patient management. Improving knowledge through awareness-raising and the organization of scientific days bringing together the different specialties will help to improve doctors' perceptions.