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Table 1 Changes in confidence and engagement in the care of patients with mental health problems

From: Five-year outcomes of western mental health training for Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners

 

Pre-course (n = 151)

Post-course (n = 151)

Wilcoxon signed rank test (pre vs post)

N

(%)

N

(%)

 

I am confident of recognizing patients with psychological problems

 Strongly disagree

1

(0.7)

2

(1.3)

Z = −5.410, p < 0.001**

 Disagree

55

(36.4)

14

(9.3)

 Agree

93

(61.6)

128

(84.8)

 Strongly agree

2

(1.3)

7

(4.6)

I am confident of diagnosing patients with common mental health problems (e.g. anxiety, depression, sleeping disorder)

 Strongly disagree

6

(4.0)

1

(0.7)

Z = −5.669, p < 0.001**

 Disagree

73

(48.3)

33

(21.9)

 Agree

69

(45.7)

112

(74.2)

 Strongly agree

3

(2.0)

5

(3.3)

I am confident of managing patients with common mental health problems

 Strongly disagree

9

(6.0)

2

(1.3)

Z = −5.895, p < 0.001**

 Disagree

95

(62.9)

52

(34.4)

 Agree

46

(30.5)

96

(63.6)

 Strongly agree

1

(0.7)

1

(0.7)

I have enough time in my practice to handle patients with mental health problems

 Strongly disagree

14

(9.3)

12

(7.9)

Z = −0.952, p = 0.341

 Disagree

89

(58.9)

86

(57.0)

 Agree

47

(31.1)

51

(33.8)

 Strongly agree

1

(0.7)

2

(1.3)

My experiences regarding patients with mental health problems

 Generally positive

28

(18.8)

39

(26.0)

Z = −2.287, p = 0.022*

 Neutral

109

(73.2)

106

(70.7)

 Generally negative

12

(8.1)

5

(3.3)

I am confident of referring a patient with mental health problem to other health care professionals if necessary

 Strongly disagree

7

(4.6)

1

(0.7)

Z = −5.918, p < 0.001**

 Disagree

65

(43.0)

28

(18.7)

 Agree

74

(49.0)

105

(70.0)

 Strongly agree

5

(3.3)

16

(10.7)

Percentage of patients with mental health problems being recommended by me to western medicine doctors

 0 %

88

(71.5)

86

(74.1)

Z = −0.244, p = 0.807

 1–10 %

21

(17.1)

18

(15.5)

 11–20 %

5

(4.1)

6

(5.2)

 21–30 %

2

(1.6)

2

(1.7)

  > 30 %

7

(5.7)

4

(3.5)

  1. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.001