Integrated Primary Care and Health Behavior Support: A Survey of Behavioral Health Providers

Abstract

Objectives: Many behavioral health providers (BHPs) in primary care practices spend a majority of their time addressing mental health rather than behavior change. We wanted to better understand the practice of BHPs in integrated primary care.

Methods: Survey of BHPs from practices participating in the Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative. The survey measured what diagnoses BHPs receive referrals to treat, what they treat regardless of referral reason, which techniques they use, and think are most effective for mental health diagnoses and behavior change/weight management support, and their interest in providing support for weight management. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman correlations.

Results: We received 79 surveys representing 64 out of 248 SIM practices (practice response rate of 26%). BHPs reported addressing health-related behaviors with patients referred to them for mental health diagnoses. They expressed interest in health behavior and believed the techniques they use for traditional mental health diagnoses also support behavior change. Most reported using cognitive behavioral therapy (89%), mindfulness (94%), and relaxation/stress management (94%). Time in practice was associated with receiving more referrals for weight management (rho(76) = .271, P = .018) and with addressing diet (rho(75) = .339, P = .003) and weight management (rho(75) = .323, P = .005). BHPs in practices that had care managers were more likely to report receiving referrals for weight management than BHPs in practices that did not employ a case manager ($r_{\tau }$(76) = .222, P = .038); practices employing a health coach were more likely to receive referrals for physical activity than practices without a health coach ($r_{\tau }$(76) = .257, P = .015).

Conclusions: BHPs are interested in and frequently address health related behavior. Formalizing health behavior services from BHPs in primary care may provide opportunities to better support patients with behavior change and subsequently improve health outcomes.

Keywords: behavior change; behavioral health providers; integrated primary care; weight management.

Figure 1.

Reported frequency of patients referred or treated, categorized by diagnosis: mental health.

Figure 2.

Reported frequency of patients referred or treated, categorized by diagnosis: health behavior.

Figure 3.

Reported frequency of use of specific techniques for mental health and health behavior.

Figure 4.

Top 5 techniques considered most effective for mental health, health behaviors, and weight management.