Associations Between Patient Comfort with a Primary Care Provider and Three Measures of Behavioral Health Services Utilization

Background Behavioral health services (BHS) can help improve and treat mental and emotional health problems. Yet, attitudinal and/or structural barriers often prevent individuals from accessing and benefiting from these services. Positive provider-patient interactions in healthcare, encompassing patient comfort with a primary care provider (PCP), which is often enhanced by shared decision-making, may mitigate the stigma associated with seeing a mental health professional; this may improve BHS utilization among patients who need these services. However, few studies have examined how patient comfort with a PCP, often through shared decision-making, may influence patients’ BHS utilization in the real world. This study sought to address this gap in practice. Method Multivariable regression analyses, using weighted data from an internet panel survey of Los Angeles County adults ( n = 749), were carried out to examine the associations between patient comfort with a PCP and three measures of BHS utilization. Subsequent analyses were conducted to explore the extent to which shared decision-making moderated these associations. Results Participants who reported an intermediate or high comfort level with a provider had higher odds of reporting that they were likely to see (aOR = 2.10 and 3.84, respectively) and get advice (aOR = 2.75 and 4.76, respectively) from a mental health professional compared to participants who reported a low comfort level. Although shared decision-making influenced participants’ likelihood of seeing and getting advice from a mental health professional, it was not a statistically significant moderator in these associations. Conclusion Building stronger relationships with patients may improve BHS utilization, a provider practice that is likely underutilized.