A systematic review of the experiences of videoconference telepsychiatry for health professionals and adult mental health care users in public mental health services.

Abstract

Review objective The objective of this review is to synthesise the best available evidence on the experiences of videoconference telepsychiatry for health professionals and adult mental health care users in public mental health services. Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies that include health professionals (doctors and nurses) involved in mental health care in public sector health services and mental health care users of public health services participating in telepsychiatry services. For this systematic review we will use the following definitions: Health professionals : Nurses and doctors involved in telepsychiatry services provided in rural and remote public sector health psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services where there are no psychiatrists. Mental health care users (MHCUs) : Adult and child psychiatric patients participating in telepsychiatry services. Phenomena of interest This review will consider studies that investigate health professionals and MHCUs experiences of videoconference-based telepsychiatry services. For this systematic review the term telepsychiatry services refers to videoconference-based clinical consultation services provided by psychiatrists to health professionals in public hospitals and psychiatric outpatient clinics in remote and rural sites where there are no psychiatrists.