Abstract
Aim: To study the satisfaction with the use of Telemedicine by the service providers of Mental Health Services in the rural and remote areas, using the primary care psychiatry concept.
Method: 28 Rural General Practitioners (RGP) and 30 Rural Community Mental Health Workers (RMHW) were administered a specially developed questionnaire studying the satisfaction with the Telemedicine service and its use for assessment and management of psychiatric patients in the country. These questionnaires were completed after the service providers used the Telemedicine service for getting specialist assessment and management for their rural psychiatric patients.
Results: There was high satisfaction scores recorded by both the RGP and RMHW with the Telemedicine service, the assessment and the management of rural psychiatric patients. The RMHWs had higher satisfaction with the psychological management, social management and confidential issues than the RGPs. The RGP expressed highest satisfaction with the biological component of management followed by psychological and social management. There were equally high satisfaction with the use of telepsychiatry in assessment of patients' presentation and symptoms. The RGPS were less satisfied with the assessment of side-effects over telepsychiatry.
Conclusion: The use of Telemedicine for assessing and managing psychiatric patients in rural and remote areas is greatly appreciated by the providers of mental health care. Telemedicine has an important place in the provision of psychiatric clinical practice and informal teaching at the interface of psychiatry and general practice, in rural and remote areas, where there is a reduced availability of psychiatrists and there are difficulties in attracting and retaining mental health practitioners.