Videoconferencing in child and adolescent telepsychiatry: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

A systematic review of child and adolescent telepsychiatry was conducted. It was based on a search of the electronic databases MEDLINE and PsycINFO covering the period 1966 to June 2003. Studies were selected for review if they concerned videoconferencing for patient care or consultation, evaluated a clinical service or education, or assessed satisfaction with videoconferences. Twenty-seven articles were identified that fulfilled the selection criteria. These comprised two reports of randomized controlled experiments, 10 of descriptive questionnaire studies or observational surveys, seven case studies and eight other reports. Only three of the studies presented some calculations of cost-effectiveness. When classified by 'Quality of Evidence' criteria, only two studies were in category I (the highest), one was in II-2 and the rest fell into category III (the lowest). Most studies of child and adolescent telepsychiatry examined satisfaction with videoconferencing or described programmes or care regimens. Videoconferencing seemed to improve the accessibility of services and served an educational function. Some papers also mentioned savings in time, costs and travel. Problems with non-verbal communication and the audiovisual quality of the videoconference were mentioned as drawbacks. Telepsychiatry therefore seems to offer several benefits, at least in sparsely populated regions. Well designed and properly controlled trials are required to evaluate the clinical value of this promising method in child psychiatry, where there is a constantly increasing need for services.

Videoconference-based education for psychiatry registrars at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Problems relating to audio quality were addressed and improvement was reflected in subsequent evaluations. Reviews on child and adolescent psychiatry studies 40 and adult studies 41 also mentioned the audiovisual quality of the videoconference as one of the drawbacks.…”

Using Telemedicine Technologies in Radiology for Low-Density Area

“…Телепатронаж -телефон, видеоконференц-связь Синхронное телеконсультирование посредством видеоконференц-связи эффективно при-меняется для диагностики, выбора метода лечения и контроля его результативности у паци-ентов с депрессией, анорексией, расстройствами поведения, фобиями, шизофренией, наруше-ниями внимания и гиперактивностью (дети), химической зависимостью 275 . Видеоконференции могут проводиться как между медицинскими работниками, так и по линии «пациент -врач» (с или без участия абонента -врача или медицинской сестры).…”

Telemental health: videoconferencing in mental health services

“…In 1950s' Nebraska, twoway closed circuit television was used, mainly in psychiatry (American Academy of Child & There has been a number of detailed reviews of the literature, including a book on telepsychiatry (Monnier 2003;Wootton 2003Wootton , 2006Pesamaa 2004;Leach 2006;Norman 2006;Hailey 2007; American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2008;Millar 2009). One systematic review of 106 studies across the whole of medicine concluded that 'telemedicine is most effective for verbal interactions, e.g.…”