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Brunt S, Sadikova E, Pappagianopoulos J, Mazurek MO. The impact of COVID-19 on receipt of health services among children with and without autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:580-586. [PMID: 37243353 PMCID: PMC10225807 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231176930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT TThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted a range of health services for children across the United States. Autistic children have well-documented deficits in health-related services compared to nonautistic children. Parents of autistic children reported an increase in mental health and behavior problems with the onset of the pandemic, increasing the need for supportive services. The current study used data from the National Survey of Children’s Health from 2019 and 2020 to conduct logistic regressions predicting the likelihood of having unmet service needs before and after the onset of the pandemic. Results suggested that autistic children were more likely to have unmet medical, dental, and mental health service needs across years compared to nonautistic children, but there were no interactions by year. All children experienced an increased likelihood of having unmet needs from pre- to post-pandemic. Results suggest that although the pandemic disrupted services across the board, autistic children lacked health services regardless of the pandemic, pointing to persisting disparities in service receipt. A discussion of ongoing barriers to services and issues related to virtual services is included. Future research should further investigate the feasibility of virtual services as well as ways of reducing barriers to all services for autistic children.
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Adem JB, Zeleke T, Walle AD, Atinafu WT, Tilahun KN, Melaku MS, Kebede SD. Awareness and readiness of mental healthcare providers to implement telemental health services and associated factors at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069671. [PMID: 37524552 PMCID: PMC10391830 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the awareness and readiness of mental healthcare providers to implement telemental health services and the associated factors at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study was conducted among mental health professionals working at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa City from 4 May to 10 June 2022. PARTICIPANTS A total of 413 (55.7% male and 44.3% female) health professionals participated in the study. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. All mental healthcare providers working at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa City were considered as the source population. Mental healthcare providers who meet the inclusion criteria were considered the study population. Having a minimum diploma qualification and 6 months or more of work experience and giving written consent were considered the inclusion criteria. OUTCOME MEASURE The main outcome measure was awareness and readiness to implement telemental health services. RESULT A total of 413 participants were enrolled, with a response rate of 90.6%. The prevalence of good awareness towards telemental health services was 41% (95% CI 37%, 47%). Being female (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.34; 95% CI 0.15, 0.76), having poor information technology support (AOR=0.32; 95% CI 0.11, 0.99) and having electronic health technology experience (AOR=1.21; 95% CI 1.1, 2.44) were significantly associated with awareness of telemental health services, whereas computer access at the workplace (AOR=0.04; 95% CI 0.003, 0.55) and awareness (AOR=4.34; 95% CI 1.02, 18.48) and attitude (AOR=1.01; 95% CI 1.03, 2.19) towards telemental health services were the variables that showed statistically significant association with readiness of mental healthcare providers for telemental health services. CONCLUSION Although majority of healthcare providers in this survey were prepared to implement telemental health services, there was typically little awareness among mental healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tirualem Zeleke
- Department of Health Informatics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Hughes JL, Horowitz LM, Ackerman JP, Adrian MC, Campo JV, Bridge JA. Suicide in young people: screening, risk assessment, and intervention. BMJ 2023; 381:e070630. [PMID: 37094838 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-070630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people worldwide and the third leading cause of death among those in the US. This review outlines the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior in young people. It discusses intersectionality as an emerging framework to guide research on prevention of suicide in young people and highlights several clinical and community settings that are prime targets for implementation of effective treatment programs and interventions aimed at rapidly reducing the suicide rate in young people. It provides an overview of current approaches to screening and assessment of suicide risk in young people and the commonly used screening tools and assessment measures. It discusses universal, selective, and indicated evidence based suicide focused interventions and highlights components of psychosocial interventions with the strongest evidence for reducing risk. Finally, the review discusses suicide prevention strategies in community settings and considers future research directions and questions challenging the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Hughes
- Big Lots Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lisa M Horowitz
- Office of the Clinical Director, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John P Ackerman
- Big Lots Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Molly C Adrian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John V Campo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bridge
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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Family Engagement in Services During COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study of Caregiver and Staff Perspectives. J Pediatr Health Care 2023; 37:142-152. [PMID: 36372630 PMCID: PMC9554331 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We examined changes in family engagement before versus during the pandemic in pediatric and family services and perceived facilitators and barriers to family engagement. METHOD We employed a mixed-methods assessment of staff and caregiver perspectives related to pediatric and family medicine clinics and family resource centers in rural northern New England. We used narrative synthesis to analyze qualitative interviews (n = 29) and descriptive statistics for quantitative surveys (n = 108). RESULTS Staff felt they were not doing as well at engaging families during versus prepandemic, identifying numerous facilitators and barriers. We found differences in resources used by families before versus during the pandemic. We identified discordant perspectives between caregivers and staff regarding how well clinics and centers identified and responded to family needs. DISCUSSION Leaders in pediatrics, advanced practice nursing, and related fields can draw on our findings to decide what services and modalities they provide for postpandemic.
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DeJong SM, Brooks D, Khan S, Reaves S, Busch B, Alicata D, Ramtekkar U, Vo LC, Pruitt D. The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Telepsychiatry Training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowships. ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY : THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY 2022; 46:740-745. [PMID: 34855156 PMCID: PMC8638234 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-021-01563-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This report summarizes findings from a 2020 survey of US child and adolescent psychiatry training programs that explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric telepsychiatry training. The authors hypothesized that telepsychiatry training significantly increased during the pandemic, in part due to legal and regulatory waivers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. METHODS In August 2020, an anonymous, 28-question online survey was emailed to all (138) accredited child psychiatry fellowships on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. Forty-nine programs responded (36%). This analysis focuses on three of the 28 questions relevant to the hypotheses: characteristics of the program's training in telepsychiatry; perceived impediments to clinical training; and perceived impediments to didactic training pre-COVID onset vs. post-COVID onset, respectively. Total scores were created to investigate differences in training programs and impediments to including telepsychiatry pre- and post-COVID onset. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare means pre- and post-COVID onset. RESULTS Results provided support for significant differences between training components related to telepsychiatry pre- and post-COVID onset, with participants reporting more training components post-COVID onset (M = 5.69) than pre-COVID onset (M = 1.80); t(48) = 9.33, p < .001. Participants also reported significantly fewer barriers to providing clinical experiences in pediatric telepsychiatry post-COVID onset (M = 2.65) than pre-COVID onset (M = 4.90); t(48) = - 4.20, p < .001. CONCLUSIONS During the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric telepsychiatry training in child psychiatry fellowships increased significantly. Perceived barriers to providing clinical, but not didactic, training decreased significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M DeJong
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Deborah Brooks
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shabana Khan
- New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samantha Reaves
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bianca Busch
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dan Alicata
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Ujjwal Ramtekkar
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lan Chi Vo
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David Pruitt
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Ward MM, Ullrich F, Merchant KAS, Carter KD, Bhagianadh D, Lacks M, Taylor E, Gordon J. Describing Changes in Telebehavioral Health Utilization and Services Delivery in Rural School Settings in Pre- and Early Stages of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2022; 92:452-460. [PMID: 35195293 DOI: 10.1111/josh.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receiving treatment for behavioral health disorders remains problematic due to profound provider shortages. Telebehavioral health services are effective for providing quality care, but research literature on these services in schools is limited. METHODS Data were collected during Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters on all students receiving telebehavioral health services from 15 school-based telehealth programs across the U.S. RESULTS From Fall 2019 to Spring 2020, 62 schools providing services during both periods increased the number of students served from 396 to 745, increased the average number of encounters per student from 2.4 to 4.1, increased the percentage of encounters delivered by clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and clinical psychologists (all p < .001), and increased the use of individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling (all p < .001). Schools that initiated the service in Spring 2020 (n = 25) averaged 6.5 encounters for the 301 students receiving services, delivered mostly by clinical social workers or professional counselors, using individual counseling. CONCLUSION Overall, data indicate programs significantly increased both behavioral services provided to their ongoing schools and increased the number of schools served. Undoubtedly telebehavioral health care delivery provided a swift and necessary response to the challenges posed by the growing pandemic threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia M Ward
- Department of Health Management and Policy, CPHB - N236, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Fred Ullrich
- Department of Health Management and Policy, CPHB - N226, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Kimberly A S Merchant
- Department of Health Management and Policy, CPHB - N242, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Knute D Carter
- Department of Biostatistics, CPHB - N318, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Divya Bhagianadh
- Department of Health Management and Policy, CPHB - N200, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Meghan Lacks
- Brody School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, East Carolina University, 101 Heart Drive, Mail Stop 654, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Erika Taylor
- Brody School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, East Carolina University, 101 Heart Drive. Mail Stop 654, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Jennifer Gordon
- School Based Telehealth Initiative (SBTI), Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance, 618 Hospital Road, Tappahannock, VA, 22560, USA
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Lyu M, Zhao Q, Yang Y, Hao X, Qin Y, Li K. Benefits of and barriers to telehealth for the informal caregivers of elderly individuals in rural areas: A scoping review. Aust J Rural Health 2022; 30:442-457. [PMID: 35460580 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maintaining care for elderly individuals in rural areas is heavily dependent on support from informal caregivers. Many informal caregivers of the elderly in rural areas feel burdened and urgently require professional support. Interests in telehealth that can provide support irrespective of geographical location have been increasing. OBJECTIVE To identify the benefits of and barriers in telehealth engagement for rural caregivers to provide evidence for service improvement. DESIGN A scoping review method was used following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. Five databases were searched. The search terms were chosen based on the target intervention (i.e. telehealth), target population (caregivers of elderly individuals) and target context (rural areas). Two authors independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from eligible studies. FINDINGS Of 4220 retrieved studies, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. This study identified four benefits of and two barriers to telehealth for rural caregivers. Four subthemes were identified as the key benefits in using telehealth for caregivers: decrease in psychological distress, increase in care efficiency, increase in social support and increase in access to resources, while inadequate telehealth infrastructures and caregivers' own reasons were the primary barriers in using telehealth for those populations. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth was shown to significantly benefit rural caregivers. Future research can be designed and conducted for overcoming the barriers to telehealth. Additionally, the benefits identified by this review need to be translated from research into practice for rural caregivers' care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaohua Lyu
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qiheng Zhao
- Orthopaedics Department, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuhang Yang
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaonan Hao
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuan Qin
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Kun Li
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Sindhu S. Digital health care services in post COVID-19 scenario: modeling the enabling factors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND HEALTHCARE MARKETING 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/ijphm-04-2021-0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The recent pandemic of COVID-19 has posed challenges for delivering essential and desirable health-care services for the masses. Digital health-care services initiated by several hospitals and health practitioners promise efficient and safe health care in the new normal post-COVID era but need a supportive enabling ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims toward identifying and modeling the key enabling factors for digital health-care services.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of nine factors were identified from the literature review and verified by the domain experts which can enable the wider acceptance of digital health-care services. The identified factors were then modeled with the help of the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach and fuzzy Matrices d’Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC) and a meaningful contextual relationship were developed for the factors.
Findings
This study reflects that the trust of patients is required for the acceptance of digital health care. Quality of patient care and affordability cum accessibility of online services will define mass engagement. Hospital staff resilience, hospital care service capacity, strategic partnerships and collaborations supported by technology and regulatory structure are the major factors defining the enabling ecosystem.
Originality/value
This study has its uniqueness in the way the TISM approach and fuzzy MICMAC are used for modeling the enabling factors toward growth and acceptance of digital health-care services in the days to come in developing nations. The focus of this study can be considered as relevant for the study interested in investigating the role of cognitive dimensions in influencing actors’ behaviors and decisions.
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Kryszak EM, Albright CM, Fell LA, Butter EM, Kuhlthau KA. Clinician Perspectives on Telehealth Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 52:5083-5098. [PMID: 35103899 PMCID: PMC8804366 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05435-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
This study examined clinician insights into telehealth assessment services for autism spectrum disorder implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. 35 clinicians from multiple disciplines across 17 sites in the Autism Care Network were interviewed. Themes identified through qualitative analyses included factors related to confidence in diagnosis (impressions of in-home observation; child and family factors that affected diagnostic confidence; changes in rapport); patient and family factors related to telehealth (perceived family benefits of and barriers to telehealth; factors related to healthcare disparities; factors specific to non-native English speakers); and institutional and workplace factors related to transitioning to telehealth (institutional support; changes to efficacy, attendance, and work satisfaction). Results suggest that telehealth has potential to be an effective tool in autism assessment practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Kryszak
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. .,Child Development Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 187 W. Schrock Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, USA.
| | - Charles M Albright
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lucy A Fell
- Division of Pediatric Health Outcomes Research, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric M Butter
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Karen A Kuhlthau
- Division of Pediatric Health Outcomes Research, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Martinez RG, van Dyk IS, Kroll JL, Emerson ND, Bursch B. Recommendations for building telemental health relationships with youth: A systematic review and resource for clinicians. EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 7:349-362. [PMID: 36248612 PMCID: PMC9562612 DOI: 10.1080/23794925.2021.1970050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben G. Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ilana Seager van Dyk
- Department of Social & Behavioral Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Juliet L. Kroll
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TC
| | - Natacha D. Emerson
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Brenda Bursch
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA,Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
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Choo ZY, Lenti G, Castaneda J, Hart C, Young S, Alcocer Alkureishi L. Effects of Telemedicine on Pediatric Clinical Care During COVID-19. Pediatr Ann 2021; 50:e503-e508. [PMID: 34889136 DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20211110-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has provided unprecedented opportunity for the growth of telemedicine in pediatrics. Clinics rapidly expanded their telemedicine capabilities and converted in-person visits to virtual visits to offer patients continued care while limiting infection risks. Although the transition to video visits has several benefits-patient convenience, versatility of care, ease of follow up, and management of chronic conditions-these gains are only available to those who have the requisite technology access and literacy needed to conduct a video visit. The need for technology-dependent care stands to further widen preexisting disparities in access to care for those who cannot use or afford the necessary technology. Our article explores some of these benefits and challenges and reminds us that although telemedicine has proven to have high utility for many patients, there are improvements that must still be made to ensure equitable accessibility and durability of virtual visits. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(12):e503-e508.].
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COVID-19, Rural Communities, and Implications of Telebehavioral Health Services: Addressing the Benefits and Challenges of Behavioral Health Services via Telehealth in Nebraska. SOCIETIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/soc11040141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Telehealth has been in use, in various forms, for over a century and is growing increasingly more popular. The current research sought to examine the prevalence, benefits, and challenges of telehealth for behavioral and mental health services in the state of Nebraska with a particular focus on rural communities. The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the research endeavors and impacted the questions that were asked related to the use of telebehavioral health. Specifically, the research included an investigation of the rates of use of telebehavioral health across agencies and whether/how the pandemic impacted the use of telehealth services. The research included an initial examination of more than 50 behavioral health agencies to assess overall utilization of telehealth. Researchers then conducted interviews with 15 practitioners to discuss the challenges and benefits associated with telehealth services. Key results suggest that implementation of telehealth in Nebraska has resulted in increased access to services among rural residents and has deeply impacted clinical practice. Additionally, clinicians identified specific benefits and challenges of telebehavioral health. It was also noted that the majority of clinicians plan to continue providing services via telehealth if the policies and regulations remain as they are post-COVID-19. Implications of this research highlight the efficiency and effectiveness of using telehealth to increase access.
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Abraham A, Jithesh A, Doraiswamy S, Al-Khawaga N, Mamtani R, Cheema S. Telemental Health Use in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review and Evidence Gap Mapping. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:748069. [PMID: 34819885 PMCID: PMC8606591 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.748069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted telemedicine use for mental illness (telemental health). Objective: In the scoping review, we describe the scope and domains of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic from the published literature and discuss associated challenges. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the World Health Organization's Global COVID-19 Database were searched up to August 23, 2020 with no restrictions on study design, language, or geographical, following an a priori protocol (https://osf.io/4dxms/). Data were synthesized using descriptive statistics from the peer-reviewed literature and the National Quality Forum's (NQF) framework for telemental health. Sentiment analysis was also used to gauge patient and healthcare provider opinion toward telemental health. Results: After screening, we identified 196 articles, predominantly from high-income countries (36.22%). Most articles were classified as commentaries (51.53%) and discussed telemental health from a management standpoint (86.22%). Conditions commonly treated with telemental health were depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Where data were available, most articles described telemental health in a home-based setting (use of telemental health at home by patients). Overall sentiment was neutral-to-positive for the individual domains of the NQF framework. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there was a marked growth in the uptake of telemental health during the pandemic and that telemental health is effective, safe, and will remain in use for the foreseeable future. However, more needs to be done to better understand these findings. Greater investment into human and financial resources, and research should be made by governments, global funding agencies, academia, and other stakeholders, especially in low- and middle- income countries. Uniform guidelines for licensing and credentialing, payment and insurance, and standards of care need to be developed to ensure safe and optimal telemental health delivery. Telemental health education should be incorporated into health professions curricula globally. With rapidly advancing technology and increasing acceptance of interactive online platforms amongst patients and healthcare providers, telemental health can provide sustainable mental healthcare across patient populations. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/4dxms/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Abraham
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
| | - Anupama Jithesh
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
| | | | | | - Ravinder Mamtani
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
| | - Sohaila Cheema
- Institute for Population Health, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
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14
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Carey LB, Ruble K, Paré-Blagoev J, Milla K, Thornton CP, Henegan S, Jacobson LA. Childhood Cancer Survivors and Distance Education Challenges: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatr Psychol 2021; 47:15-24. [PMID: 34643698 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pediatric cancer survivors have historically struggled to receive adequate educational supports. In Spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced an emergency switch from traditional in-person education models to distance education, but little information is available regarding experiences of pediatric survivors' coping with schooling since that time. METHODS This article presents exploratory mixed methods findings from a quality improvement project including qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey conducted with parents of pediatric oncology survivors identified through neuropsychological assessment, and the use of school-based services as having educationally relevant neurocognitive impacts of disease or treatment. The interviews explored experiences of education and instructional delivery during the COVID-19 school closures in spring of 2020 and the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year and served as the foundation for a quantitative survey to determine the generalizability of findings. RESULTS Qualitative interviews highlighted 3 emergent themes regarding the shared experiences of distance schooling for children with cancer during the COVID-19 school closures: (a) attention, (b) mental health, and (c) access to instruction. A follow-up quantitative survey supported the qualitative findings and their generalizability to the schooling experiences of other children with cancer during the pandemic. CONCLUSION This article describes and explores each theme and offers suggestions for pediatric supports and changes to provider service delivery (including weblinks to access project-developed resources) as a result of ongoing pandemic-related schooling needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa B Carey
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathy Ruble
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Kimberly Milla
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clifton P Thornton
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sydney Henegan
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lisa A Jacobson
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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15
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Hélène K, Gourret Baumgart J, El Hage W, Deloyer J, Maes C, Lebas MC, Marazziti D, Thome J, Fond-Harmant L, Denis F. Uses of digital technologies in the time of Covid-19: opportunities and challenges for professionals in psychiatry and mental health care. JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 9:e30359. [PMID: 34736224 PMCID: PMC8820762 DOI: 10.2196/30359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Covid-19 pandemic has required psychiatric and mental health professionals to change their practices to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, in particular by favoring remote monitoring and assessment via digital technologies. OBJECTIVE As part of a research project that was co-funded by the French National Research Agency (ARN) and the Centre-Val de Loire Region, we carried out a systematic literature review to investigate how such uses of digital technologies have been developing. METHODS The present systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cairn databases, as well as in a platform specializing in mental health, Ascodocpsy. The search yielded 558 results for the year 2020. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, first on titles and abstracts, and then on full texts, 61 articles were included. RESULTS The analysis of the literature revealed a heterogeneous integration of digital technologies, not only depending on countries, contexts, and local regulations, but also depending on the modalities of care. Notwithstanding these variations, the use of videoconferencing has developed significantly, affecting working conditions and therapeutic relationships. For many psychiatric and mental health professionals, the pandemic has been an opportunity to build up an experience of remote care, and thus better identify the possibilities and limits of these digital technologies. CONCLUSIONS The new uses of such technologies essentially consist in a transition from the classic consultation model towards teleconsultation and makes less use of the specific potential of artificial intelligence. As professionals were not prepared for these uses, they were confronted with practical difficulties and ethical questions, such as the place of digital technology in care, confidentiality and protection of personal data, and equity in access to care. The health crisis questions how the organization of health care integrates the possibilities offered by digital technology, in particular so as to promote the autonomy and empowerment of mental health service users. CLINICALTRIAL
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Affiliation(s)
- Kane Hélène
- Laboratoire éducation, éthique, santé, Université de Tours, Boulevard Tonnellé, Tours, FR
| | - Jade Gourret Baumgart
- Laboratoire éducation, éthique, santé, Université de Tours, Boulevard Tonnellé, Tours, FR
| | - Wissam El Hage
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Tours, FR.,Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire Tours (CHRU), Tours, FR
| | - Jocelyn Deloyer
- Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St. Martin (CNP St. Martin), Dave Namur, BE
| | - Christine Maes
- Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St. Martin (CNP St. Martin), Dave Namur, BE
| | - Marie-Clotilde Lebas
- Département des Sciences de la Santé Publique et de la Motricité, Haute Ecole de la Province de Namur (HEPN), Namur, BE
| | - Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, IT.,Unicamillus, University of Rome and Brain Research Foundation, Lucca, IT
| | - Johannes Thome
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Rostock, DE
| | - Laurence Fond-Harmant
- Agence de Coopération Scientifique Europe-Afrique-Luxembourg (ASCAL), Luxembourg, LU.,Education et Pratiques en Santé, Paris 13, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris, FR
| | - Frédéric Denis
- Laboratoire éducation, éthique, santé, Université de Tours, Boulevard Tonnellé, Tours, FR
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16
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Abd-Alrazaq A, Hassan A, Abuelezz I, Ahmed A, Alzubaidi MS, Shah U, Alhuwail D, Giannicchi A, Househ M. Overview of Technologies Implemented During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e29136. [PMID: 34406962 PMCID: PMC8767979 DOI: 10.2196/29136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technologies have been extensively implemented to provide health care services for all types of clinical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several reviews have been conducted regarding technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were limited by focusing either on a specific technology (or features) or proposed rather than implemented technologies. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide an overview of technologies, as reported in the literature, implemented during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a scoping review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Extension for Scoping Reviews. Studies were retrieved by searching 8 electronic databases, checking the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews (backward reference list checking), and checking studies that cited included studies (forward reference list checking). The search terms were chosen based on the target intervention (ie, technologies) and the target disease (ie, COVID-19). We included English publications that focused on technologies or digital tools implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health-related services regardless of target health condition, user, or setting. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from eligible papers. We used a narrative approach to synthesize extracted data. RESULTS Of 7374 retrieved papers, 126 were deemed eligible. Telemedicine was the most common type of technology (107/126, 84.9%) implemented in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the most common mode of telemedicine was synchronous (100/108, 92.6%). The most common purpose of the technologies was providing consultation (75/126, 59.5%), followed by following up with patients (45/126, 35.7%), and monitoring their health status (22/126, 17.4%). Zoom (22/126, 17.5%) and WhatsApp (12/126, 9.5%) were the most commonly used videoconferencing and social media platforms, respectively. Both health care professionals and health consumers were the most common target users (103/126, 81.7%). The health condition most frequently targeted was COVID-19 (38/126, 30.2%), followed by any physical health conditions (21/126, 16.7%), and mental health conditions (13/126, 10.3%). Technologies were web-based in 84.1% of the studies (106/126). Technologies could be used through 11 modes, and the most common were mobile apps (86/126, 68.3%), desktop apps (73/126, 57.9%), telephone calls (49/126, 38.9%), and websites (45/126, 35.7%). CONCLUSIONS Technologies played a crucial role in mitigating the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did not find papers describing the implementation of other technologies (eg, contact-tracing apps, drones, blockchain) during the first wave. Furthermore, technologies in this review were used for other purposes (eg, drugs and vaccines discovery, social distancing, and immunity passport). Future research on studies on these technologies and purposes is recommended, and further reviews are required to investigate technologies implemented in subsequent waves of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Abd-Alrazaq
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Asmaa Hassan
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Israa Abuelezz
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Arfan Ahmed
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mahmood Saleh Alzubaidi
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Uzair Shah
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dari Alhuwail
- Information Science Department, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait
- Health Informatics Unit, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait, Kuwait
| | - Anna Giannicchi
- School of Professional Studies, Berkeley College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mowafa Househ
- Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
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17
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Hopkins L, Pedwell G. The COVID PIVOT - Re-orienting Child and Youth Mental Health Care in the Light of Pandemic Restrictions. Psychiatr Q 2021; 92:1259-1270. [PMID: 33754240 PMCID: PMC7983966 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-021-09909-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The COVID pandemic required significant changes in the provision of youth mental health services during the period of lockdown/stay at home orders. Things which were identified as changing significantly during this period included: service via telehealth; working from home, split teams (to reduce infection risk), and social (physical) distancing. An online survey of clinicians was conducted involving both closed and open ended questions. Service staff identified significant benefits from the changes to the way services were delivered as well as some impediments and challenges. Advantages in the new way of working revolved around the flexibility of the virtual service, with appointments online enabling families to more easily overcome issues of transport, work commitments, childcare and disruption to routines and timing. The online platforms also enabled some family members to participate who otherwise might not have been able to come to appointments in person. Disadvantages included where there were issues with availability and access to appropriate technology or private spaces, or when the young person was very young, very unwell, unstable, isolated or at higher risk. This study suggests that telehealth and flexible working arrangements have become an essential new element in the clinicians' toolkit to be offered either alone or as a supplement to in person interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Hopkins
- Alfred Health, Child and Youth Mental Health Service, 999 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189, Australia.
| | - Glenda Pedwell
- Alfred Health, Child and Youth Mental Health Service, 999 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189, Australia
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18
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Lau N, Colt SF, Waldbaum S, O'Daffer A, Fladeboe K, Yi-Frazier JP, McCauley E, Rosenberg AR. Telemental Health For Youth With Chronic Illnesses: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e30098. [PMID: 34448724 PMCID: PMC8459754 DOI: 10.2196/30098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic conditions experience difficulties coping with disease-related stressors, comorbid mental health problems, and decreased quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global mental health crisis, and telemental health has necessarily displaced in-person care. However, it remains unknown whether such remote interventions are feasible or efficacious. We aimed to fill this research-practice gap. OBJECTIVE In this systematic review, we present a synthesis of studies examining the feasibility and efficacy of telemental health interventions for youth aged ≤25 years with chronic illnesses. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from 2008 to 2020. We included experimental, quasiexperimental, and observational studies of telemental health interventions designed for children, adolescents, and young adults aged ≤25 years with chronic illnesses, in which feasibility or efficacy outcomes were measured. Only English-language publications in peer-reviewed journals were included. We excluded studies of interventions for caregivers or health care providers, mental health problems not in the context of a chronic illness, disease and medication management, and prevention programs for healthy individuals. RESULTS We screened 2154 unique study records and 109 relevant full-text articles. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, and they represented seven unique telemental health interventions. Five of the studies included feasibility outcomes and seven included efficacy outcomes. All but two studies were pilot studies with relatively small sample sizes. Most interventions were based on cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy. The subset of studies examining intervention feasibility concluded that telemental health interventions were appropriate, acceptable, and satisfactory to patients and their parents. Technology did not create barriers in access to care. For the subset of efficacy studies, evidence in support of the efficacy of telemental health was mixed. Significant heterogeneity in treatment type, medical diagnoses, and outcomes precluded a meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS The state of the science for telemental health interventions designed for youth with chronic illnesses is in a nascent stage. Early evidence supports the feasibility of telehealth-based delivery of traditional in-person interventions. Few studies have assessed efficacy, and current findings are mixed. Future research should continue to evaluate whether telemental health may serve as a sustainable alternative to in-person care after the COVID pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Lau
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Susannah F Colt
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Shayna Waldbaum
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alison O'Daffer
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Fladeboe
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Joyce P Yi-Frazier
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Elizabeth McCauley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
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19
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Siegel A, Zuo Y, Moghaddamcharkari N, McIntyre RS, Rosenblat JD. Barriers, benefits and interventions for improving the delivery of telemental health services during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a systematic review. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2021; 34:434-443. [PMID: 33928918 PMCID: PMC8183246 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To reduce the spread of infection from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), mental healthcare facilities were forced to make the rapid transition from face-to-face services to virtual care. This systematic review aims to synthesize the extant literature reporting on barriers of telemental health (TMH) during the COVID-19 pandemic and how facilities have worked to overcome these barriers, to inform best practices for TMH delivery. RECENT FINDINGS Most recent findings came from case studies from mental health professionals which reported on barriers related to institutional, provider and patient factors, and how these barriers were overcome. Common barriers identified in the literature include: technological difficulties; issues regarding safety, privacy and confidentiality; therapeutic delivery and the patient-provider relationship; and a loss of sense of community. Studies also reported on the benefits to TMH interventions/tools, as well as suggestions for improvements in the delivery of TMH services. SUMMARY As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, mental healthcare providers continue to find creative and feasible solutions to overcome barriers to the delivery of TMH. Dissemination of these solutions is imperative to ensure the best quality of mental healthcare for patients across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Siegel
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network
| | - Yushen Zuo
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | | | - Roger S. McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation
- Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua D. Rosenblat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
- Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation
- Poul Hansen Family Centre for Depression
- Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
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20
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Rangachari P, Mushiana SS, Herbert K. A Narrative Review of Factors Historically Influencing Telehealth Use across Six Medical Specialties in the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094995. [PMID: 34066829 PMCID: PMC8125887 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, studies in the US have identified wide variations in telehealth use across medical specialties. This is an intriguing problem, because the US has historically lacked a standardized set of telehealth coverage and reimbursement policies, which has posed a barrier to telehealth use across all specialties. Although all medical specialties in the US have been affected by these macro (policy-level) barriers, some specialties have been able to integrate telehealth use into mainstream practice, while others are just gaining momentum with telehealth during COVID-19. Although the temporary removal of policy (coverage) restrictions during the pandemic has accelerated telehealth use, uncertainties remain regarding future telehealth sustainability. Since macro (policy-level) factors by themselves do not serve to explain the variation in telehealth use across specialties, it would be important to examine meso (organizational-level) and micro (individual-level) factors historically influencing telehealth use across specialties, to understand underlying reasons for variation and identify implications for widespread sustainability. This paper draws upon the existing literature to develop a conceptual framework on macro-meso-micro factors influencing telehealth use within a medical specialty. The framework is then used to guide a narrative review of the telehealth literature across six medical specialties, including three specialties with lower telehealth use (allergy-immunology, family medicine, gastroenterology) and three with higher telehealth use (psychiatry, cardiology, radiology) in the US, in order to synthesize themes and gain insights into barriers and facilitators to telehealth use. In doing so, this review addresses a gap in the literature and provides a foundation for future research. Importantly, it helps to identify implications for ensuring widespread sustainability of telehealth use in the post-pandemic future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavani Rangachari
- Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-706-721-2622
| | - Swapandeep S. Mushiana
- School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA;
| | - Krista Herbert
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA;
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21
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Abd-alrazaq A, Hassan A, Abuelezz I, Ahmed A, Alzubaidi MS, Shah U, Alhuwail D, Giannicchi A, Househ M. Overview of Technologies Implemented During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review (Preprint).. [DOI: 10.2196/preprints.29136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Technologies have been extensively implemented to provide health care services for all types of clinical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several reviews have been conducted regarding technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were limited by focusing either on a specific technology (or features) or proposed rather than implemented technologies.
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to provide an overview of technologies, as reported in the literature, implemented during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Extension for Scoping Reviews. Studies were retrieved by searching 8 electronic databases, checking the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews (backward reference list checking), and checking studies that cited included studies (forward reference list checking). The search terms were chosen based on the target intervention (ie, technologies) and the target disease (ie, COVID-19). We included English publications that focused on technologies or digital tools implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health-related services regardless of target health condition, user, or setting. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data from eligible papers. We used a narrative approach to synthesize extracted data.
RESULTS
Of 7374 retrieved papers, 126 were deemed eligible. Telemedicine was the most common type of technology (107/126, 84.9%) implemented in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the most common mode of telemedicine was synchronous (100/108, 92.6%). The most common purpose of the technologies was providing consultation (75/126, 59.5%), followed by following up with patients (45/126, 35.7%), and monitoring their health status (22/126, 17.4%). Zoom (22/126, 17.5%) and WhatsApp (12/126, 9.5%) were the most commonly used videoconferencing and social media platforms, respectively. Both health care professionals and health consumers were the most common target users (103/126, 81.7%). The health condition most frequently targeted was COVID-19 (38/126, 30.2%), followed by any physical health conditions (21/126, 16.7%), and mental health conditions (13/126, 10.3%). Technologies were web-based in 84.1% of the studies (106/126). Technologies could be used through 11 modes, and the most common were mobile apps (86/126, 68.3%), desktop apps (73/126, 57.9%), telephone calls (49/126, 38.9%), and websites (45/126, 35.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Technologies played a crucial role in mitigating the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We did not find papers describing the implementation of other technologies (eg, contact-tracing apps, drones, blockchain) during the first wave. Furthermore, technologies in this review were used for other purposes (eg, drugs and vaccines discovery, social distancing, and immunity passport). Future research on studies on these technologies and purposes is recommended, and further reviews are required to investigate technologies implemented in subsequent waves of the pandemic.
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22
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Hoffnung G, Feigenbaum E, Schechter A, Guttman D, Zemon V, Schechter I. Children and Telehealth in Mental Healthcare: What We Have Learned From COVID-19 and 40,000+ Sessions. PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE 2021; 3:106-114. [PMID: 33821240 PMCID: PMC8014257 DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20200035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Of the many impacts of COVID-19 on contemporary healthcare is the rapid and overwhelming shift to remote telehealth (TH) service. The precise effect of TH on treatment is yet unknown, and the possible child/adult differences are an essential point of clarification for the utility of TH services and efforts to improve upon them. Methods The current study considers data reflecting pre-, during-, and post-COVID-19 lockdown over the first six months of 2020. Data comprise records of N = 43,294 services delivered to N = 2520 unique clients across multiple outpatient mental health sites at a Certified Community Based Mental Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Rockland County, NY, an area hard hit by COVID-19. Results Results demonstrate significant differences between child and adult sessions with a relative decrease in the number of child mental health services with the switch to TH in March 2020 (onset of lockdown) and a relatively rapid shift back to face-to-face among child services when in-person services resumed in May and June 2020. Results further highlight significant differences between child age and service type, with psychiatry less affected by TH than psychotherapy. Conclusions Implicit in the data is the ability to offer remotely, a high volume of ongoing behavioral intervention. Findings support TH as less preferred for children than adults while indicating that child TH is favored for psychiatry and support services, less so for psychotherapy. Implications for enhancing child TH delivery and directions for continued research include relational factors, platform (phone/video) and screen salience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Vance Zemon
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology Yeshiva University Bronx NY
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23
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Cunningham NR, Ely SL, Barber Garcia BN, Bowden J. Addressing Pediatric Mental Health Using Telehealth During Coronavirus Disease-2019 and Beyond: A Narrative Review. Acad Pediatr 2021; 21:1108-1117. [PMID: 34118499 PMCID: PMC8413840 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The pediatrician serves as a frontline provider addressing patients' medical and mental health needs, yet coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is reshaping the way physicians deliver care. Pediatricians are increasingly faced with the challenge of delivering care, including mental health care, remotely. Given the rapidly evolving literature, we performed a narrative review of the use of telehealth for mental health care for pediatric populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Areas of focus included 1) pediatric primary care settings, 2) special pediatric populations (eg, eating disorders, autism), 3) access and engagement in telehealth care, and 4) training opportunities available for mental health providers. Themes that emerged across studies included the importance of meeting patients' needs (eg, access to technological resources) to optimize success in using telehealth tools and challenges around provider access to support tools for use during telehealth. Thus, we provided a summary of evidence-based tools (including COVID-19 specific resources) for improving the remote delivery of mental health care by pediatricians. We also reviewed future directions including trials currently underway to enhance understanding of future telehealth applications for pediatric mental health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natoshia R. Cunningham
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University (NR Cunningham and SL Ely), Grand Rapids, Mich,Address correspondence to Natoshia R. Cunningham, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, 15 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Samantha L. Ely
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University (NR Cunningham and SL Ely), Grand Rapids, Mich
| | - Brittany N. Barber Garcia
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University (BNB Garcia and J Bowden), Grand Rapids, Mich,Spectrum Health, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital (BN Barber Garcia and J Bowden), Grand Rapids, Mich
| | - Jennifer Bowden
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University (BNB Garcia and J Bowden), Grand Rapids, Mich,Spectrum Health, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital (BN Barber Garcia and J Bowden), Grand Rapids, Mich
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24
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Severe J, Tang R, Horbatch F, Onishchenko R, Naini V, Blazek MC. Factors Influencing Patients' Initial Decisions Regarding Telepsychiatry Participation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Telephone-Based Survey. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e25469. [PMID: 33320823 PMCID: PMC7758083 DOI: 10.2196/25469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Telepsychiatry enables patients to establish or maintain psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the factors influencing patients’ initial decisions to participate in telepsychiatry in the midst of a public health crisis. Objective This paper seeks to examine factors influencing patients’ initial decisions to accept or decline telepsychiatry immediately after the stay-at-home order in Michigan, their initial choice of virtual care modality (video or telephone), and their anticipated participation in telepsychiatry once clinics reopen for in-person visits. Methods Between June and August 2020, we conducted a telephone-based survey using a questionnaire comprising 14 quantitative and two qualitative items as part of a quality improvement initiative. We targeted patients who had an in-person appointment date that fell in the first few weeks following the Michigan governor’s stay-at-home order, necessitating conversion to virtual visits or deferment of in-person care. We used descriptive statistics to report individual survey responses and assess the association between chosen visit type and patient characteristics and future participation in telepsychiatry using multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 244 patients whose original in-person appointments were scheduled within the first 3 weeks of the stay-at-home order in Michigan completed the telephone survey. The majority of the 244 respondents (n=202, 82.8%) initially chose to receive psychiatric care through video visits, while 13.5% (n=33) chose telephone visits and 1.2% (n=3) decided to postpone care until in-person visit availability. Patient age correlated with chosen visit type (P<.001; 95% CI 0.02-0.06). Patients aged ≥44 years were more likely than patients aged 0-44 years to opt for telephone visits (relative risk reduction [RRR] 1.2; 95% CI 1.06-1.35). Patient sex (P=.99), race (P=.06), type of insurance (P=.08), and number of previous visits to the clinic (P=.63) were not statistically relevant. Half of the respondents (132/244, 54.1%) stated theywere likely to continue with telepsychiatry even after in-person visits were made available. Telephone visit users were less likely than video visit users to anticipate future participation in telepsychiatry (RRR 1.08; 95% CI 0.97-1.2). Overall, virtual visits met or exceeded expectations for the majority of users. Conclusions In this cohort, patient age correlates with the choice of virtual visit type, with older adults more likely to choose telephone visits over video visits. Understanding challenges to patient-facing technologies can help advance health equity and guide best practices for engaging patients and families through telehealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Severe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ruiqi Tang
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Faith Horbatch
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Vidisha Naini
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Mary Carol Blazek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Lian W, Wen L, Zhou Q, Zhu W, Duan W, Xiao X, Mhungu F, Huang W, Li C, Cheng W, Tian J. Digital Health Technologies Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic In a Tertiary Hospital in China: Development and Usability Study. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e24505. [PMID: 33141679 PMCID: PMC7690252 DOI: 10.2196/24505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a continuing global pandemic. Hospitals are integral to the control and prevention of COVID-19; however, they are facing numerous challenges during the epidemic. OBJECTIVE Our study aimed to introduce the practical experience of the design and implementation of a web-based COVID-19 service platform at a tertiary hospital in China as well as the preliminary results of the implementation. METHODS The web-based COVID-19 service platform was deployed within the health care system of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital and Internet Hospital; the function of the platform was to provide web-based medical services for both members of the public and lay health care workers. The focal functions of this system included automated COVID-19 screening, related symptom monitoring, web-based consultation, and psychological support; it also served as a COVID-19 knowledge hub. The design and process of each function are introduced. The usage data for the platform service were collected and are represented by three periods: the pre-epidemic period (December 22, 2019, to January 22, 2020, 32 days), the controlled period (January 23 to March 31, 2020, 69 days), and the postepidemic period (April 1 to June 30, 2020, 91 days). RESULTS By the end of June 2020, 96,642 people had used the automated COVID-19 screening and symptom monitoring systems 161,884 and 7,795,194 times, respectively. The number of general web-based consultation services per day increased from 30 visits in the pre-epidemic period to 122 visits during the controlled period, then dropped to 73 visits in the postepidemic period. The psychological counseling program served 636 clients during the epidemic period. For people who used the automated COVID-19 screening service, 160,916 (99.40%) of the total users were classified in the no risk category. 464 (0.29%) of the people were categorized as medium to high risk, and 12 people (0.01%) were recommended for further COVID-19 testing and treatment. Among the 96,642 individuals who used the COVID-19 related symptoms monitoring service, 6696 (6.93%) were symptomatic at some point during the monitoring period. Fever was the most frequently reported symptom, with 2684/6696 symptomatic people (40.1%) having had this symptom. Cough and sore throat were also relatively frequently reported by the 6696 symptomatic users (1657 people, 24.7%, and 1622 people, 24.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The web-based COVID-19 service platform implemented at a tertiary hospital in China is exhibited to be a role model for using digital health technologies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital solutions of automated COVID-19 screening, daily symptom monitoring, web-based care, and knowledge propagation have plausible acceptability and feasibility for complementing offline hospital services and facilitating disease control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanmin Lian
- Information Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Wen
- Information Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiru Zhou
- Internet Hospital, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijie Zhu
- Information Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhou Duan
- Information Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiongzhi Xiao
- Information Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Florence Mhungu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Chongchong Li
- Beijing Rxthinking Technology Co Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Weibin Cheng
- Institute for Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Application, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junzhang Tian
- Institute for Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Application, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
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Kommu JVS, Sharma E, Ramtekkar U. Telepsychiatry for Mental Health Service Delivery to Children and Adolescents. Indian J Psychol Med 2020; 42:46S-52S. [PMID: 33354063 PMCID: PMC7736747 DOI: 10.1177/0253717620959256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Children constitute 40% of India's population. Large number of children with psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions are unable to access mental health services due to factors such as unavailability of these services in smaller urban and rural centres and lack of training for primary care providers. Given the relatively easy access to video conferencing technology, feasibility and acceptability of Telepsychiatry, there is an urgent need to invest resources and strengthen the use of Telepsychiatry for child and adolescent mental health training and serviced delivery . This viewpoint article discusses the need,scope,experiences and challenges related to use of Telepsychiatry in the area of child mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eesha Sharma
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ujjwal Ramtekkar
- Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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