Social support status and factors affecting compliance with treatment in depression patients admitted to primary care

Objectives: Depression is a serious psychiatric disease that is common in society and can cause biological, social losses and loss of power, or even death in people's lives. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting their social support status and adaptation to treatment in depression patients admitted to primary care providers, which are the first point of application for health services. Material and Methods: Our descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between 01 June and 01 August 2020 with 470 depression patients admitted to 6 Family Health Centers in Afyonkarahisar. As a data collection tool, personal data form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Modified Morisky Scale were used. SPSS 20 program was used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The median age of participants was 48 (min:19, max:85) and 56.6% (n=266) were women, 42.6% (n=200) were primary school graduates, and 41.7% (n=196) were housewives. Participants median score from Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was 53 (min:20, max:84). It was determined that factors such as advanced age, separation from their partner, living alone, illiteracy, retirement, low-income level, and chronic disease were effective in reducing social support. According to Modified Morisky Scale, 67.7% (n=318) of the participants were found to have high knowledge, 76.2% (n=358) and high motivation levels, and high compliance with depression treatment. It was determined that factors such as advanced age, separation from their partner, living alone, illiteracy, low-income level, previously receiving treatment for depression, and stopping treatment were effective in reducing adaptation to treatment. Conclusion and Recommendation: Primary care physicians play an important role in mental diseases as well as physical diseases due to their easy access to health services at the point of entry, their low prevalence as doctors, and their frequent sight of undifferentiated diseases.