Identifying patients with psychosocial problems in general practice: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• General Practice Research
• Psychosocial Health
• Healthcare Assessment Tools

Background:

• Psychosocial problems (PSPs) are prevalent and impact patient health.
• Identifying patients with PSPs in general practice is crucial for effective care.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive overview of assessment tools for PSPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of tools and methods for identifying psychosocial problems in general practice research.
• To identify and characterize instruments used to capture a wide range of psychosocial issues.
• To highlight patient characteristics associated with identified psychosocial problems.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and Joanna Briggs Institute manual.
• Systematic search across four databases (Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library).
• Inclusion of quantitative and qualitative studies in multiple languages without time limitations.

Main Results:

• 61 instruments were identified from 66 eligible articles out of 839 initial records.
• 22 instruments were reported as validated; most were paper-and-pencil questionnaires.
• Significant heterogeneity observed in the conceptualization, definition, and measurement of PSPs.

Conclusions:

• The review presents various tools and methods for identifying patients with PSPs in general practice.
• Adaptation and tailoring of instruments to local contexts are necessary for practical application.
• Future research should focus on structured evaluation and consensus methods to facilitate instrument implementation.