Abstract
Advances in digital health have enabled clinicians to move away from a reliance on face to face consultation methods towards making use of modern video and web-based conferencing technology. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote telecommunication methods have become much more common place in mental health settings. The current study sought to investigate whether remote telecommunication methods are preferable to face to face consultations for adults referred to an Autism and ADHD Service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, whether there are any differences in preferred consultation methods between adults who were referred for an assessment of Autism as opposed to ADHD. 117 service users who undertook assessment by the ADHD and Autism Service at South West Yorkshire NHS Partnership Foundation Trust from April to September 2020 completed an adapted version of the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). Results demonstrated that service users found remote telecommunication to be useful, effective, reliable and satisfactory. Despite this, almost half of service users stated a general preference for face to face consultations. There was no difference in the choice of methods of contact between Autism and ADHD pathways. Remote telecommunication methods were found to be an acceptable medium of contact for adults who undertook an assessment of Autism and ADHD at an NHS Service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
Advances in digital health have enabled clinicians to move away from a reliance on face to face consultation methods towards making use of modern video and web-based conferencing technology [1, 2]
Digital health is a widely used term that encompasses an enormous variety of products from consumer-focused mobile apps with no clinical validation to regulatorapproved apps aimed at patients, physicians or clinical pathologists, to tools targeted at researchers
The current study seeks to investigate first whether remote telecommunication methods are preferable to face to face consultations for adults referred to an Autism and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Service and second whether there are any differences in preferred consultation methods between adults who were referred for an assessment of Autism as opposed to ADHD
Summary
Advances in digital health have enabled clinicians to move away from a reliance on face to face consultation methods towards making use of modern video and web-based conferencing technology [1, 2]. Digital health is a widely used term that encompasses an enormous variety of products from consumer-focused mobile apps with no clinical validation to regulatorapproved apps aimed at patients, physicians or clinical pathologists, to tools targeted at researchers. It includes potentially disruptive technologies whose full impact has yet to be understood [3]. Proponents for the use of digital solutions in health care settings suggest that they have the potential to enhance patient choice, ensure cost efficiencies are maximised and provide a more flexible platform for healthcare delivery to patients [4].
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