The child telepsychiatry project--a randomized controlled trial: (a comparison of initial child psychiatry assessments conducted via telemedicine to assessments conducted face-to-face)

dc.contributor.authorElford, Rod
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-02T17:55:14Z
dc.date.available2020-06-02T17:55:14Z
dc.date.issued1997
dc.description.abstractTelemedicine - the use of telecommunications technology to transmit medical information to and from a distant location, has many potential benefits. A variety of technologies can be used to conduct telemedicine and it has applications in every field of medicine. This thesis investigates the use of a PC-based videoconferencing system to conduct child psychiatric assessments at a distance. Using a randomized, controlled design, 23 patients and their parents completed a telemedicine interview and a face-to-face interview. Self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to obtain data for the study. The data were coded and the evaluators blinded. The diagnosis~ treatment recommendations and participant satisfaction with the telemedicine and face-to-face assessments were compared. An independent evaluator concluded that in 22/23 cases (96%) the diagnosis and treatment recommendations made via telemedicine were clinically the same as the diagnosis and treatment recommendations made face-to-face. Overall, participants responded positively to the telemedicine assessments. All five psychiatrists stated that telemedicine assessments were an “adequate alternative” to face-to-face assessments and did not interfere with making a diagnosis. However, if given the choice they “preferred” to assess a patient face-to-face. The majority of patients “liked” using the system to talk to the psychiatrist and 5/17 children (29%) said they preferred talking to the doctor using the telemedicine system versus face-to-face. Parents were also positive toward the telemedicine system with 21/23 (91%) stating that if they had to travel a long distance to see a psychiatrist they would prefer to use the system. General conclusions include: -- 1) it was possible for psychiatrists to conduct a child psychiatry assessment using the PC-based videoconferencing system, -- 2) psychiatrists make the same diagnosis and treatment recommendations via telemedicine as they do face-to-face and -- 3) psychiatrists, patients and parents were satisfied with the telemedicine system. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationElford, Rod. (1997). The child telepsychiatry project--a randomized controlled trial: (a comparison of initial child psychiatry assessments conducted via telemedicine to assessments conducted face-to-face). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://research.library.mun.ca/10461/1/Elford_Rod.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/4744
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMemorial University of Newfoundland.en_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectpsychological effectsen_US
dc.subjecttelemental healthen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.subjectInternational Resourcesen_US
dc.subjectCanadaen_US
dc.titleThe child telepsychiatry project--a randomized controlled trial: (a comparison of initial child psychiatry assessments conducted via telemedicine to assessments conducted face-to-face)en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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