Njenga Frank, Ongeri Linnet, Nguithi Anna, Anundo Jacqueline, Mugane Maryann, Kimari Zawadi, Mbugua Gathoni, Kaigwa Cushny, Atwoli Lukoye
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Chiromo Mental Health Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Clinical Research Scientist, Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. Email:
BJPsych Int. 2022 May;19(2):E3. doi: 10.1192/bji.2021.38.
Globally, health providers and patients alike have been forced to adapt rapidly to the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although telepsychiatry has been tested and found just as effective as face-to-face care, there still remains little uptake of this form of care provision in sub-Saharan Africa. This case study highlights the use of telepsychiatry in a previously telemedicine-naive private mental health facility in Kenya. We describe the challenges and lessons learned from the experience. We conclude on the need to test the effectiveness and acceptability of this mode of therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.
在全球范围内,医疗服务提供者和患者都被迫在新冠疫情期间迅速适应远程医疗的使用。尽管远程精神病学已经经过测试,并且被发现与面对面护理一样有效,但在撒哈拉以南非洲,这种护理提供形式的采用率仍然很低。本案例研究突出了在肯尼亚一家以前对远程医疗毫无经验的私立心理健康机构中远程精神病学的使用情况。我们描述了所面临的挑战以及从该经历中学到的经验教训。我们得出结论,有必要在撒哈拉以南非洲测试这种治疗模式的有效性和可接受性。