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.author | Elford, Rod | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-06-02T17:55:14Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-06-02T17:55:14Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1997 | |
dc.description.abstract | Telemedicine - 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.citation | Elford, 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.uri | https://research.library.mun.ca/10461/1/Elford_Rod.pdf | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11212/4744 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Memorial University of Newfoundland. | en_US |
dc.subject | child abuse | en_US |
dc.subject | psychological effects | en_US |
dc.subject | telemental health | en_US |
dc.subject | research | en_US |
dc.subject | International Resources | en_US |
dc.subject | Canada | en_US |
dc.title | The 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.type | Article | en_US |