"I rather talk on the phone": Factors affecting compliance with outpatient visits during COVID-19 Pandemic. (1st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arain, F.; Motamedi, N.; Hassan, N.; Zamiri, A.; Rashid, A.; Jennings, M.; Sanchez-Lacay, A.; Korenis, P.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 65:Supplement 1(2022)
• Page Start: S569
• Page End: S570
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic presented a global public-health crisis that demanded healthcare to adapt at an unprecedented pace. While challenging, it also created opportunities for the advancement of novel electronic-treatment-modalities. Telepsychiatry has emerged as an effective method to ensure continuity of care and ensure social distancing. 1 Studies indicate that mental-health patients have higher rates of noncompliance to follow-up, 1 thus finding means to increase compliance is critical. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to determine the impact of telepsychiatry on compliance to follow-up and to identify numbers of psychiatric/medical emergency-room visits, most common contributing factors for admission, and compliance in terms of diagnosis. Methods: This IRB approved study is a retrospective chart-review, that aims to study children/adolescents (5-18 years) who presented to the Child&Adolescent-Psychiatry Outpatient-clinic from July-December 2020 and engaged in telepsychiatry, compared to a group of patients presented in July-December 2019-Pre-Covid19-Pandemic. A review of clinical characteristics including diagnosis, demographic information, medication, and treatment compliance will be compared as well as admissions to inpatient-psychiatry/emergency-room visits. Results: Our total sample (N=252) included patients from 2019-Pre-COVID19 (N=111) and 2020 Telehealth during COVID19-Pandemic (N=141). Our data analysis using SPSF and T-test has shown that Telehealth has significantly increased follow-up compliance (Two-tailed P-value=0.04); 2019-Pre-COVID outreach mean=0.06, 2020-Telehealth-during COVID outreach mean=0.02); significantly decreased ER/CPEP visits (P-value=0.02), and decreased In-patient-unit admissions (P-value=0.02). Conclusions: According to the presented study, the incorporation of telepsychiatry has increased the compliance to psychiatric-care in outpatient and decreased the emergency-room visits and inpatient admission. Sufficient resources and steps need to be taken to further strengthen telehealth services. Disclosure: No significant relationships.