Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland , Baltimore, Maryland.
Telemed J E Health. 2013 Oct;19(10):794-9. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2012.0314. Epub 2013 Aug 27.
The field of telepsychiatry has rapidly advanced a focus on decreasing health disparities by improving access to mental healthcare for children and adolescents. However, perfecting the quality and effectiveness of telemental healthcare is an ongoing process in the face of various documented barriers. Although consumer and provider satisfactions have been investigated in the telepsychiatry literature, perspectives of psychiatrists who consult with schools have been relatively understudied. The current study focuses on the utilization of telepsychiatry consultation to school mental health providers, by reporting on the perspectives of psychiatrists who provide consultation services.
Using quantitative and qualitative data, the psychiatrists' perspectives about their consultation experiences were examined and compared with previously obtained data from school mental health providers about their experiences with the telepsychiatry consultation.
Results indicate positive provider experiences with telepsychiatry, including reports that students were more likely to disclose clinical information via video compared with face-to-face contact. However, concerns regarding technological difficulties, logistics, and information sharing were endorsed by some of the psychiatrists. Comparison with clinician reports revealed many similarities; however, differences were noted in regard to the psychiatrists' ability to communicate with the students and their level of preparedness for the consultations.
Recommendations for ongoing evaluation and implementation of effective telepsychiatry consultation for schools are provided. Improvements in communication, scheduling, and addressing technological difficulties within the consultation team through training and consultation are recommended. Future directions for including student, caregiver, and other provider perspectives are also discussed.
远程精神病学领域的快速发展侧重于通过改善儿童和青少年获得精神保健的机会来减少健康差距。然而，在面对各种记录的障碍时，完善远程医疗的质量和效果是一个持续的过程。尽管远程精神病学文献已经研究了消费者和提供者的满意度，但相对较少关注与学校协商的精神科医生的观点。本研究通过报告提供咨询服务的精神科医生的观点，重点关注远程精神病学咨询在学校心理健康提供者中的利用。
使用定量和定性数据，检查了精神科医生对其咨询经验的看法，并将其与以前从学校心理健康提供者那里获得的关于他们对远程精神病学咨询的经验的资料进行了比较。
结果表明提供者对远程精神病学有积极的体验，包括报告说，与面对面接触相比，学生通过视频更有可能透露临床信息。然而，一些精神科医生对技术困难、后勤和信息共享表示关注。与临床医生的报告进行比较，发现有许多相似之处；然而，在精神科医生与学生沟通的能力和他们对咨询的准备程度方面存在差异。
为学校提供持续评估和实施有效的远程精神病学咨询提供了建议。建议通过培训和咨询，改善咨询团队中的沟通、日程安排和解决技术困难。还讨论了包括学生、照顾者和其他提供者观点的未来方向。
