Healthcare professionals’ prioritisation of barriers to accessing evidence-based psychological therapy for perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Background: Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (PNOCD) can impact up to one in five individuals in the perinatal period. Whilst effective treatment for PNOCD is available, parents experience barriers accessing this evidence-based psychological therapy. Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on barriers to accessing support are valuable to develop targeted interventions to increase access to support for PNOCD. Aim: This study aimed to prioritise a list of barriers to accessing therapy for PNOCD, in terms of importance and amenability to change, from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Method: 203 healthcare professionals from across primary, community and secondary care services completed a survey where they ranked barriers in terms of importance and amenability to change. Barriers were ranked within clusters and across cluster names; 47 barriers were organised into seven clusters. Rankings were analysed using descriptive statistics and the non-parametric Friedman’s test. Results: Professionals ranked healthcare professionals’ knowledge and training on PNOCD as the barrier which was most important and amenable to change. Parents’ knowledge and awareness of PNOCD and services, their attitudes to mental health problems, and their attitudes towards healthcare professionals and services were ranked as the second most important and amenable to change. Conclusion: Professionals view their colleagues’ knowledge and training on PNOCD as the most important barrier impacting parents access to evidence-based therapy for PNOCD. Training for professionals could be targeted to increase access. Parents’ awareness and attitudes surrounding PNOCD, mental health and services were also identified by professionals as an important barrier and is recommended to be targeted to increase access.