Feasibility study on the use of telemedicine for psychiatric patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study on the effectiveness of tele-consultation in monitoring patients with mental illness by the Community Mental Health Team
IRAS ID
137779
Contact name
Suneeta James
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leicestershire Parnership NHS Trust
Research summary
Telemedicine was developed to be used in underserved/rural areas and has been successfully trialled for the last decade internationally (Kennedy and Yellowlees, 2003). It has been proved to enable mental health providers improve communications with patients, reduced travel time and costs and improve efficiency (De Las Cuevas et al, 2006; Singh et al, 2007). Although in the UK, telemedicine has mainly been used within forensic services (Saleem, Taylor and Khalifa 2008), there have been no studies looking at its effectiveness for community patient care. Potential benefits to patients would be reduced waiting time to be seen and cost of travel, and the option of being reviewed at home should they be unable to attend clinics due to severe anxiety or physical illness. The potential merits for clinicians would be reduced travel time and increase capacity therefore shortening waiting lists.
This study will evaluate the feasibility of running a study investigating the use of telemedicine for the care of psychiatric patients in the community. The study will measure the practicalities of developing a research project aiming at investigating the role of telemedicine in patients care. It will involve 20 consenting psychiatric patients who have been stable for a considerable time (no acute episodes in over one year) who are looked after by the Adult Mental Health team. The study will collect primarily feedback from professionals and patients in the use of telemedicine when comparing to face-to-face meetings. Professionals will be using videoconferencing facilities approved by the Trust Board. The study period will last for 6 months. The experiences and the benefits gained by the patients and clinicians will be recorded. This study will ascertain the sufficient number of patients that can be recruited to inform on the development of a more definitive trial.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0100
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion