scholarly journals Attitudinal Barriers Hindering Adoption of Telepsychiatry among Mental Healthcare Professionals: Israel as a Case-Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12540
Author(s):  
Tamir Magal ◽  
Maya Negev ◽  
Hanoch Kaphzan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Organizational Affiliation

Despite proven advantages for the use of telemedicine in psychiatry, mental healthcare professionals have shown deep-seated mistrust and suspicion of telepsychiatry, which hinders its widespread application. The current study examines the attitudes of Israeli mental health professionals towards telepsychiatry and seeks to uncover the effects of experience and organizational affiliation on its adoption. The methodology included qualitative and thematic analysis of 27 in-depth interviews with Israeli mental health professionals, focusing on three major themes—clinical quality, economic efficiency, and the effects on the work–life balance of healthcare professionals. The attitudes of mental health professionals were found to be widely divergent and sharply dichotomized regarding different aspects of telepsychiatry and its suitability for mental healthcare services. However, there was a general consensus that telemedicine may not fulfil its promise of being a panacea to the problems of modern public medicine. In addition, attitudes were related to hierarchical position, organizational affiliation, and personal experience with telepsychiatry. Specifically, organizational affiliation influenced experience with and support for the assimilation of telepsychiatry. The study also revealed the role of organizational leadership and culture in promoting or inhibiting the proliferation and adoption of innovative technologies and services in modern medicine.

Attitudinal barriers hindering adoption of Telepsychiatry among mental healthcare professionals: Israel as a case-study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamir Magal ◽  
Maya Negev ◽  
Hanoch Kaphzan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Clinical Quality ◽  
Hierarchical Position ◽  
Organizational Affiliation

BACKGROUND Despite obvious and proven advantages for the use of telemedicine in psychiatry, mental healthcare professionals have shown deep-seated mistrust and suspicion of telepsychiatry, which hinders its widespread application. OBJECTIVE The current study aims to examine the attitudes of Israeli mental health professionals towards telepsychiatry; seeking to uncover the relationship with experience with telepsychiatry, and organizational affiliation. METHODS A qualitative study, including 27 in-depth interviews with Israeli mental-health professionals, representing a diverse analytical, geographical, and gendered cross-section of the local professional community. A thematic analysis revealed three major themes – economic efficiency, clinical quality, and the effects on the work-life balance of healthcare professionals. Individuals’ responses were furthermore compared against hierarchical position, organizational affiliation, and experience with telepsychiatry. RESULTS Participants were evenly divided, between supporters of telepsychiatry and those who oppose and object to its widespread usage in routine mental healthcare. This division manifested itself most clearly in their assessment of the clinical quality of telepsychiatry. However, it was also palpable in their assessment of its efficiency and its effects for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the study also revealed a positive correlation between participants’ experience with telepsychiatry, and their support for its usage. However, this relationship seems to be mitigated by one’s employment and organizational affiliations. Employees of at least one Israeli Health Maintenance Organization exhibited a negative trendline, where more experience with telepsychiatry also meant stronger opposition for its utilization. CONCLUSIONS Attitudes of mental health professionals were found to be widely divergent and sharply dichotomized regarding different aspects of telepsychiatry, and its suitability for mental healthcare services. However, there was general consensus that telemedicine may not fulfil its promise of being a panacea to the problems of modern public medicine. At the same time, attitudes were related to hierarchical position, organizational affiliation and personal experience with telepsychiatry. Specifically, organizational affiliation influenced experience with and support for assimilation of telepsychiatry. The study also revealed the role of organizational leadership and culture in promoting or inhibiting the proliferation and adoption of innovative technologies and services in modern medicine.

scholarly journals Mental health in post-earthquake Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiran Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Long Run

For two decades, Government of Nepal has made efforts to develop and maintain mental health professionals in all areas; however, much has to be done. This could be an opportunity for Nepal to redesign mental healthcare services at the community level. Primary mental health services integrated with community mental health could help children and families cope with and recover from mental illnesses in the long run.

scholarly journals Stalking of mental health professionals: an underrecognised problem

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronan J. McIvor ◽  
Edward Petch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Educational Programmes

SummaryDoctors and mental healthcare professionals are at greater risk of being stalked than the general population, particularly by their patients. Despite causing significant psychological distress, stalking remains underrecognised and poorly managed. Healthcare organisations should ensure appropriate policies are in place to aid awareness and minimise risk, including the provision of formal educational programmes.

scholarly journals Interventions to promote psychiatric patients’ compliance to mental health treatment: A systematic review

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mosidi B. Serobatse ◽  
Emmerentia Du Plessis ◽  
Magdalena P. Koen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Health Treatment

Background: Non-compliance to treatment remains one of the greatest challenges in mental healthcare services, and how to improve this remains a problem.Aim: The aim of this study was to critically synthesise the best available evidence from literature regarding interventions to promote psychiatric patients’ compliance to mental health treatment. The interventions can be made available for mental health professionals to use in clinical practice.Method: A systematic review was chosen as a design to identify primary studies that answered the following research question: What is the current evidence on interventions to promote psychiatric patients’ compliance to mental health treatment? Selected electronic databases were thoroughly searched. Studies were critically appraised and identifid as answeringthe research questions. Evidence extraction, analysis and synthesis were then conducted by means of evidence class rating and grading of strength prescribed in the American Dietetic Association’s manual.Results: The systematic review identifid several interventions that can improve patients’ compliance in mental health treatment, for example adherence therapy and motivational interviewing techniques during in-hospital stay.Conclusions: Conclusions were drawn and recommendations formulated for nursing practice, education and research.Agtergrond: Geen-samewerking met behandeling bly steeds een van die grootste uitdagings in geestesgesondheidsorgdienste, en genoegsame kennis oor hoe om dit te verbeter, is steeds ’n probleem.Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die beskikbare bewyse vanuit literatuur aangaande intervensies ter bevordering van psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling krities te sintetiseer. Hierdie intervensies kan aan professionele gesondheidsorgpersoneel beskikbaar gestel word ter bevordering van psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling.Metode: ’n Sistematiese literatuuroorsig is gekies as die ontwerp om primêre studieste identifieer wat die volgende navorsingsvraag beantwoord: Wat is die huidige kennis ten opsigte van intervensies wat psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling bevorder?Resultate: Studies is ingesluit vir kritiese gehalte-beoordeling ten opsigte van metodologie, en is uiteindelik geïdentifieer as bronne van bewyse wat die literatuuroorsigvraag toepaslik beantwoord. Bewysonttrekking, -analise en -sintese is gedoen deur middel van die beoordeling van bewysklas en -gradering van bewyssterkte, soos voorgeskryf in die American Dietetic Association se handleiding. Die sistemiese literatuuroorsig het aangedui datdaar heelparty intervensies is wat psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met behandeling kan verbeter, byvoorbeeld samewerkingsterapie en motiveringsonderhoudstegnieke.Gevolgtrekking: Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak en aanbevelings is geformuleer vir die verpleegpraktyk, verpleegonderrig en navorsing in verpleging.

scholarly journals Telepsychiatry Netiquette: Connect, Communicate and Consult

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 22S-26S
Author(s):  
Mohan Sunil Kumar ◽  
Sharmitha Krishnamurthy ◽  
Nitya Dhruve ◽  
Bettahalasoor Somashekar ◽  
Mahesh R Gowda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Formal System ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Ease Of Access ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
Professional Guidelines

Globally, telepsychiatry has been around since the 1950s. It is in the COVID era that it has gained the relevance and much-needed momentum amongst mental health care professionals. Given the restrictions imposed by the global lockdown owing to the fear of contracting the virus, the ease of access and safety offered by telepsychiatry makes it both appealing and “the new normal.” Despite some hesitation from mental health professionals, there is adequate research to support the role of telehealth services in the management of various mental health disorders. As with any formal system, the practice of telepsychiatry is regulated by professional guidelines to show the way forward to both health provider and seeker. The manuscript examines the ways telepsychiatry is redefining our virtual conduct. It emphasizes the evolving “netiquette” needed to navigate online consultations. It also elucidates the challenges faced by health professionals, and possible ways of maneuvering and circumventing the same. Telepsychiatry, a dynamic process which is interactive and personalized, adds a third dimension to the practice of modern medicine. It is here to stay. So, it is not a question of “if” instead “how soon” we can adapt to and get conversant with this revolutionary mode of connection, communication, and consultation, which will make all the difference.

Mapping mental health professionals’ perspectives and practices regarding the implementation of Digital Mental Health: a qualitative study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Mendes-Santos ◽  
Francisco Nunes ◽  
Elisabete Weiderpass ◽  
Rui Santana ◽  
Gerhard Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Intervention Delivery ◽  
Training Programmes

BACKGROUND Despite Digital Mental Health’s potential to provide cost-effective mental healthcare, its adoption in clinical settings is limited and little is known about the perspectives and practices of mental health professionals regarding its implementation or the factors influencing such perspectives and practices. OBJECTIVE The current study aimed at characterizing in-depth the perspectives and practices of mental health professionals regarding the implementation of Digital Mental Health and exploring the factors impacting such perspectives and practices. METHODS A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with Portuguese mental health professionals (N=13) - psychologists and psychiatrists – was conducted. Transcribed interviews were thematically analysed. RESULTS Mental health professionals deemed important or engaged in the following practices during the implementation of Digital Mental Health: i) Indication evaluation; ii) Therapeutic contract negotiation; iii) Digital psychological assessment; iv) Technology setup and management; and v) Intervention delivery and follow-up. Low threshold accessibility and professionals' perceived duty to provide support to their clients facilitated the implementation of Digital Mental Health. Conversely, the lack of structured intervention frameworks; the unavailability of usable, validated, and affordable technology; and the absence of structured training programmes, inhibited Digital Mental Health’s implementation by mental health professionals. CONCLUSIONS The publication of practice frameworks, the development of evidence-based technology, and the delivery of structured training seem key to expedite implementation and encourage the sustained adoption of Digital Mental Health by mental health professionals.

Digital psychiatry: implications for patients and services

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
James P Pandarakalam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased burden on all medical services and healthcare professionals are applying new strategies to cope with the added demands. During the pandemic mental healthcare services in many parts of the world have been reorganised to incorporate modern technology and maintain efficient service delivery. Mental health professionals are playing a major role in alleviating the suffering resulting from this pandemic. A selective survey of the literature, including narrative reviews, was carried out to study the implications of digital psychiatry. Historically, epidemics have had a substantial effect on mental health and general health services. Telehealth appears to be the right solution to the present mental health crisis, but technology cannot substitute for human presence and proximity in mental health services, so the newer interventions have advantages and disadvantages. Remote methods of therapy are likely to continue to be used and proper assessment of these new ways of working in psychiatry is required. In the post-pandemic period, the challenge will be to combine digital and in-person therapies. Discussions about digital revolution in the field of psychiatry should be modified to digital evolution.

Mental health professionals discussing spiritual care for psychiatric outpatients: a qualitative study of multidisciplinary meetings

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Cusveller ◽  
Maarten van Garderen ◽  
Joan Roozemond-Kroon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Psychiatric Outpatients ◽  
Insurance Reimbursement ◽  
Multidisciplinary Meetings ◽  
Group Interviews

Abstract Aim: To explore how mental health professionals address spiritual care for outpatients in weekly multidisciplinary care meetings (MDM), and to explore the barriers and facilitators in the ways health professionals address spiritual care in those meetings. Method: Two teams of mental health professionals providing care for psychiatric outpatients are included. Qualitative data were collected from audio recordings of multidisciplinary meetings and from focus-group interviews afterwards. Data were analysed using ‘open coding’. Results: Spiritual care was not frequently addressed mostly due to the requirements of the health insurance reimbursement system. Aspects of spirituality addressed in these meetings pertained mainly to meaningful daily activities. Addressing spiritual care was facilitated, on the other hand, by a holistic focus on health and recovery-oriented care. Conclusion: In ambulatory mental healthcare spirituality is sparsely addressed and, when addressed, few aspects of spirituality come into view. Facilitating healthcare professionals’ awareness of their clinical perspective is an essential step to improve spiritual care for psychiatric outpatients.

scholarly journals Improving Patient Outcomes: Effectively Training Healthcare Staff in Psychological Practice Skills: A Mixed Systematic Literature Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Garzonis ◽  
Eryn Mann ◽  
Aleksandra Wyrzykowska ◽  
Pavlo Kanellakis
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
European Healthcare

Training is an important part of modern European healthcare services and is often cited as a way to improve care quality. To date, various training methods have been used to impart skills relevant to psychological practice in a variety of mental health professionals. However, patient outcomes are rarely used in evaluating the effectiveness of the different training methods used, making it difficult to assess true utility. In the present review, we consider methods of training that can effectively impact trainee and patient outcomes. To do so, PubMed, PsycNET, Scopus, CENTRAL and ERIC were searched for studies on training of healthcare staff in psychological practice approaches. In total, 24 studies were identified (16 quantitative and 8 qualitative). For the most part, group, individual, and web-based training was used. A variety of health professionals were trained in skills including ‘communication’, ‘diagnosis’, and ‘referral’ to name but a few. In the majority of studies staff skill level improved. These findings hold implications for the design, implementation, and evaluation of training for mental healthcare staff.

scholarly journals Services for ethnic minorities: a question of trust

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 401-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Appleby
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
Fair Treatment ◽  
Positive Message ◽  
Policy Priority

SummaryMental healthcare for ethnic minorities is a government policy priority. However, debate about how services should develop has been overshadowed by public criticism over high rates of admission and sectioning in some ethnic groups, the implication being that racism is rife in mental healthcare. These criticisms are headline-seeking, scientifically crude and unfair to mental health professionals. However, it is true that some minority communities are mistrustful of the services available. We need to overcome this mistrust with a positive message – and a promise of fair treatment.

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