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- Title
Integrating assisted tele-psychiatry into primary healthcare in Goa, India: a feasibility study.
- Authors
Garg, Ankur; Agrawal, Ravindra; Velleman, Richard; Rane, Anil; Costa, Sheina; Gupta, Devika; Dsouza, Ethel; Jambhale, Abhijeet; Sabnis, Akshada; Fernandes, Godwin; Bhatia, Urvita; Nadkarni, Abhijit
- Abstract
Background: Tele-psychiatry is an increasingly acceptable and feasible platform to deliver mental health care with the potential to increase access to care in low-resource settings. We aim to examine the acceptability and preliminary impact of the delivery of assisted tele-psychiatry services in primary healthcare settings in Goa, India. Methods: Before-after uncontrolled treatment cohort study. In total, 161 adults with either a mental or alcohol use disorder were provided tele-consultation by psychiatrists through a customised video conferencing platform, along with medication or counselling (via trained lay counsellors) or both as needed. Data on socio-demographics, clinical outcomes and process indicators were collected at baseline and 3 months post-baseline. Paired t tests were used to assess clinical outcomes pre- and post-treatment using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and World Health Organisation Disability Adjustment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0, and logistic regression was used to find associations between changes in these scores and various factors. Results: The most common diagnosis was depression (35%). Post-treatment, there was a significant reduction in both GHQ-12 and WHODAS 2.0 scores. Participants showed high satisfaction with the tele-psychiatry services and technology platform. Improvement in GHQ-12 score was associated with being employed [OR 8.74 (1.92–39.75, p = 0.005)] and being a homemaker [OR 6.42 (CI 1.61–25.57, p = 0.008)]. Conclusion: Treatment of mental disorders through a tele-psychiatry platform appears to be highly acceptable and is associated with improved clinical outcomes. Considering its potential for scalability, a model of assisted tele-psychiatry integrated into primary care can be an important strategy to increase access to mental healthcare in low-resource settings.
- Subjects
GOA (India : State); INDIA; MENTAL health services; TELEPSYCHIATRY; WORLD Health Organization; ALCOHOLISM; VIDEOCONFERENCING; MEDICAL care; MENTAL rotation
- Publication
Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 2022, Vol 9, p26
- ISSN
2641-1148
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/gmh.2021.47