EPA Survey on Digitalisation in European Psychiatry

Samochowiec J, Volpe U, Gaebel W, Falkai P, Dom G, Schouler Ocak M, De Picker L, Krzystanek M, Rojnic Kuzman M et al

Dear Colleagues,

Digital technology might offer psychiatry the potential for radical change in terms of service delivery and the development of new treatments. However, it also carries the risk of commercialised, unproven treatments entering the medical marketplace with detrimental effect. Novel research methods, transparency standards, clinical evidence, and care delivery models must be created in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Psychiatrists need to remain up to date and educated in the evolving digital world.

In order to facilitate discussion and collaboration, a Task Force group working under the umbrella of the National Psychiatric Associations Council prepared a questionnaire gathering information on Digitalisation in European Psychiatry (“DEP Survey”)

The aims of EPA Survey on Digitalisation in European Psychiatry (“DEP Survey”) are:

1. To gather information on the e-mental health tools available in a given country, the availability of remote synchronous telemedical appointments and its status as standard of care.

2. To collect the respondent's recommendations regarding the use and usefulness of remote synchronous telemedical appointments in various forms, places and situations in a given country and the proportion in which remote medical service can be provided compared to face-to-face visits.

3. To gather information on financing, recommendations on duration of remote synchronous telemedical appointments, forms of remote contact, its advantages and disadvantages and legal framework regarding telemedicine in a given country.

4. To gather opinions in the form of open comments on the limitations on the use of telemedical services in a given country and changes in telemedicine caused by the CIVID-19 pandemic.

Please share with us practices on this issue in your country by filling the questionnaire below on behalf of your National Psychiatric Association.

Thank you very much!

1.What is the name of your National Psychiatric Association?(Required.)

2.What is your name?(Required.)

3.What is your email address?(Required.)

4.In what country is your National Psychiatric Association located?(Required.)

5.What is your gender?(Required.)

Male

Female

Non-binary

6.How old are you?(Required.)

8.How long have you been working in psychiatry (years)?(Required.)

9.What are the most compelling problem(s) in your country in relation to mental health care (you can choose more than one answer)?(Required.)

11.Please rate the accessibility of the remote synchronous telemedical appointments using videoconference system for psychiatrists (i.e. telepsychiatry) in your country:

(Required.)

12.Please rate the technical suitability of the remote synchronous telemedical appointments using videoconference system for psychiatrists (i.e. telepsychiatry) in your country:

(Required.)

13.Please rate the legislative regulation of the remote synchronous telemedical appointments using videoconference system for psychiatrists (i.e. telepsychiatry) in your country:

(Required.)

14.Please rate the financial reimbursement of the remote synchronous telemedical appointments using videoconference system for psychiatrists (i.e. telepsychiatry) in your country:

(Required.)

15.Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for adult patients are already a standard of care (for psychiatrists/psychologists) in the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for adult patients are not a standard of care

I don't know

16.Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for adult patients may become a standard of care in the next 12 months in the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for adult patients may not become a standard of care in the next 12 months

I don't know

17.In the opinion of your NPA, a remote synchronous telemedical appointment for adult patients should not be recommended in which of the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

I don't know

18.Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for children and adolescents are already a standard of care in the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for children and adolescents are not a standard of care

I don't know

19.In your country, remote synchronous telemedical appointments for children and adolescents may become a standard of care in the next 12 months in the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

Remote synchronous telemedical appointments for children and adolescents may not become a standard of care in the next 12 months

I don't know

20.In the opinion of your NPA, a remote synchronous telemedical appointment for children and adolescents should not be recommended in which of the following situations (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

First-time appointment

Follow-up appointment

Standardised psychiatric interviewing a patient

Psychological assessment

Collection an objective interview (from family member, care giver, etc.)

Individual psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy

I don't know

21.How is the remote synchronous video-consultation currently financed in your country?(Required.)

From public funds

From patient’s private insurance

Directly from the patient

Other (please specify)

22.In the opinion the opinion of your NPA, how should the remote synchronous video-consultation be financed?(Required.)

From public funds

They should be covered by the patient’s private insurance

They should be paid for directly by the patient

Other (please specify)

23.For the patient, a cost of remote synchronous telemedical appointments compared to face-to-face appointments in your country, is:(Required.)

24.For the social security, a cost of remote synchronous telemedical appointments compared to face-to-face appointments in your country, is:(Required.)

25.For the psychiatrist, a cost of remote synchronous telemedical appointments compared to face-to-face appointments in your country, is:(Required.)

26.In your country, the duration of remote synchronous telemedical appointments compared with face-to-face appointments is:(Required.)

27.In your country, the preferred form of a synchronous telemedical contact is:(Required.)

Audio calls (e.g., stationary phone, mobile phone, online communicators)

Video teleconferences (eg. Skype, Zoom, Whatsapp)

Text messages

E-mail

Telepsychiatry is not available in my country

Other (please specify)

28.Advantages of remote synchronous telemedical communication, from the point of view of both the specialist and the patient are (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

Distance is not an issue

No need to go to the doctor

Ability to make an ad-hoc appointment

Sense of intimacy (e.g., no risk of meeting an acquaintance in the waiting room)

Sense of security

Other (please specify)

29.Disadvantages of remote synchronous telemedical appointments, from the point of view of both the specialist and the patient are (multiple answers are possible):(Required.)

Quality of communication depending on technical equipment and/or quality of connection

Lack of technical competence

Limited possibility to identify a patient

Limited possibility to assess the facial and body expression

Limited expression as for non-verbal communication issues

Inability to conduct somatic or neurological examination

Lack of intimacy and comfort during the video-consultation

Difficulties in providing assistance in an emergency situation

Other (please specify)

30.What are the restrictions on the use of telemedical services in your country?(Required.)

31.Does any legislation or legal framework regarding telemedicine exist in your country?(Required.)

It existed before Covid-19 pandemic

It has been developed during Covid-19 pandemic

It has been developed after Covid-19 pandemic

It does not exist

32.After the pandemic, in what proportion medical services should be provided by psychiatrists remotely in comparison to face to face visits?(Required.)

33.Provide an estimate of the percentage of psychiatric services provided remotely over the last one working month.(Required.)

34.What has the COVID-19 pandemic changed in terms of telepsychiatry?(Required.)

35.Are there any changes planned in the providing of remote consultations after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, please describe them or indicate n/a.(Required.)

36.Please leave any comments concerning remote synchronous telemedical appointments in your country and/or for this survey. If you have no comments, please write 'no comments'. (Required.)

Current Progress,

0 of 36 answered