JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated movement restrictions forced a rapid and massive transition to telepsychiatry to successfully maintain care continuity, providing a unique opportunity for implementation research.

Objective:

To examine a large number of patients’ experiences, use of and attitudes towards telepsychiatry.

Methods:

An anonymous survey was delivered electronically to 14,000 patients receiving telepsychiatry care at 18 participating centers across 11 US states, including questions about their experience and satisfaction on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and report data.

Results:

3,070 patients with different age ranges participated. The overall experience using telepsychiatry was either excellent or good for 82.2% using video, and 81.5% using telephone. 1,922 (63.6%) patients either agreed or strongly agreed that remote treatment sessions (telephone or video) have been just as helpful as in person treatment. Lack of commute (n=1,406, 46.1%) and flexible scheduling/rescheduling (n=1,389, 45.5%), were frequently reported advantages of telepsychiatry, whereas missing the clinic/hospital (n=936, 30.7%) and not feeling as connected to their doctor/nurse/therapist (n=752, 24.6%) were the most frequently reported challenges. After the current pandemic resolves, 1,937 (64.2%) respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they would consider using remote treatment sessions in the future.

Conclusions:

Telepsychiatry is very well perceived among a large sample of patients. After the current pandemic resolves, some patients may benefit from continued telepsychiatry.