Dilemma of applying telehealth for overseas organ transplantation: comparison on perspectives of health professionals and e-health information and communication technologists in Taiwan

Anxiety and Somatoform Syndromes Predict Transplant-Focused Internet Use in the Course of an Organ Transplantation

Background: e-Health interventions are increasing in the field of organ transplantations; however, the literature lacks evidence regarding needs, attitudes, and preferences of organ recipients and donors during the course of an organ transplantation. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 70 subjects were assessed using self-rated and validated questionnaires, such as the PRIME MD Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D) and the Essen Resource Inventory (ERI). Group differences and a multiple linear regression were also applied. Results: Organ recipients had significantly higher scores for depression (U = 245.00, z = -2.65, p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.32), somatoform (U = 224.50, z = -2.99, p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.37), and stress syndromes (U = 266.00, z = -2.25, p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.27). They also named the internet and apps as resources to find information regarding organ transplants (U = 177.50, z = -2.07, p = 0.017, Cohen's d = 0.28; Z = -2.308, p = 0.021) and preferred to use apps to monitor the physical condition (Z = -2.12, p = 0.034) significantly more than organ donors. Anxiety and somatoform syndromes were significant predictors to search for information regarding the transplant process (F[6,38] = 3.98, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.386). Conclusions: e-Health interventions are promising in accompanying the course of an organ transplant for patients to be informed and educated. Predominantly, potential organ recipients might benefit from apps to record physical parameters. However, anxiety syndromes might hinder patients from searching for information about the transplant process, while somatoform syndromes might enable patients who are searching for such information.

The Use of Health Information Technology Within Collaborative and Integrated Models of Child Psychiatry Practice

There is a consistent need for more child and adolescent psychiatrists. Despite increased recruitment of child and adolescent psychiatry trainees, traditional models of care will likely not be able to meet the need of youth with mental illness. Integrated care models focusing on population-based, team-based, measurement-based, and evidenced-based care have been effective in addressing accessibility and quality of care. These integrated models have specific needs regarding health information technology (HIT). HIT has been used in a variety of different ways in several integrated care models. HIT can aid in implementation of these models but is not without its challenges.