Perspectives of physicians' in child and adolescent psychiatry in Türkiye on the use of telepsychiatry in training and clinical practice

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of physicians working in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Türkiye toward telepsychiatry. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Of the 121 physicians reached across Türkiye, 105 completed the survey. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form and a 27-item telepsychiatry attitude form developed by the researchers. The overall telepsychiatry attitude score was calculated from relevant items between questions 8 and 38 and scored on a 0-1 scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of the general attitude score toward telepsychiatry. Results: The mean age of participants was 32.86±6.07 years, and 78.1% were female. The mean attitude score was 0.74±0.13; 37.1% of participants had a high, 52.4% a moderate, and 10.5% a low level of positive attitude. Using it in clinical practice (p=0.001), perceiving that it improves patient compliance (p<0.001), and believing it reduces stigmatization (p<0.001) all significantly raised the overall attitude score. Conclusion: Child and adolescent psychiatrists in Türkiye generally hold a positive attitude toward telepsychiatry. However, deficiencies in technical infrastructure, training, and legal regulations limit its widespread adoption. Integrating telepsychiatry into residency curricula may enhance professional competencies in this field. These positive attitudes highlight the potential of telepsychiatry to enhance clinical accessibility and support training practices.

Keywords

• Telepsychiatry
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Attitude
• Training
• Digital health

Ethical Statement

The Institutional Ethics Committee of the Pamukkale University Medical School approved the study (approval date: 03/11/2020, approval number: 60116787-020/66561).

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the physicians who participated in this study for their cooperation. This study was presented as an oral presentation titled "Views of Turkish Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases Physicians on the Use of Telepsychiatry in Specialist Training and Clinical Practice" at the 31st National Congress of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases, Çeşme, İzmir, May 17-20, 2022, by Ömer Başay, Pelin Arı, Ahmet Büber, and Bürge Kabukçu Başay

Türkiye'de çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı ve hastalıkları alanında çalışan hekimlerin, telepsikiyatrinin uzmanlık eğitiminde ve klinik uygulamada kullanılmasına yönelik görüşleri

Abstract

Öz Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, Türkiye’de çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı ve hastalıkları (ÇERSAH) alanında çalışan hekimlerin telepsikiyatriye ilişkin farkındalık, bilgi düzeyi ve tutumlarını değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve yöntem: Bu kesitsel tanımlayıcı çalışma, çevrim içi anket yöntemiyle yürütülmüştür. Türkiye genelinde ulaşılan 121 hekimden 105’i anketi tamamlamıştır. Veriler, araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen sosyodemografik bilgi formu ve 27 maddelik telepsikiyatri tutum formu aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Telepsikiyatriye ilişkin genel tutum puanı, 8-38. sorular arasındaki uygun maddelerden oluşturulmuş ve 0-1 aralığında puanlanmıştır. Tutum puanını yordayan değişkenleri belirlemek amacıyla çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 32,86±6,07 yıl olup, %78,1’i kadındır. Ortalama tutum puanı 0,74±0,13’tür; katılımcıların %37,1’i yüksek, %52,4’ü orta, %10,5’i düşük düzeyde olumlu tutum sergilemiştir. Klinik uygulamada kullanma (p=0,001), danışan uyumuna katkı sağlayacağı (p<0,001) ve stigmatizasyonu azaltacağına inanma (p<0,001) değişkenleri genel tutum puanını anlamlı biçimde artırmıştır. Sonuç: Çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı hekimleri genel olarak telepsikiyatriye olumlu yaklaşmaktadır. Ancak teknik altyapı, eğitim ve yasal düzenlemelere ilişkin eksiklikler uygulamaların yaygınlaşmasını sınırlamaktadır. Uzmanlık eğitimine telepsikiyatri konularının dâhil edilmesi, bu alandaki mesleki yeterlilikleri geliştirebilir. Bu olumlu tutumlar, telepsikiyatrinin klinik erişilebilirliği artırma ve eğitim uygulamalarını destekleme potansiyelini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Telepsikiyatri
• Çocuk ve ergen ruh sağlığı
• Tutum
• Eğitim
• Dijital sağlık

Ethical Statement

Çalışma, Pamukkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kurumsal Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylandı (onay tarihi: 03/11/2020, onay numarası: 60116787-020/66561).

Thanks

Yazarlar, bu çalışmaya katılan hekimlere işbirlikleri için teşekkürlerini sunarlar. Bu çalışma, 31. Ulusal Çocuk ve Ergen Ruh Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Kongresi'nde (Çeşme, İzmir, 17-20 Mayıs 2022) Ömer Başay, Pelin Arı, Ahmet Büber ve Bürge Kabukçu Başay tarafından "Türk Çocuk ve Ergen Ruh Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Hekimlerinin Uzmanlık Eğitimi ve Klinik Uygulamada Telepsikiyatri Kullanımına İlişkin Görüşleri" başlıklı sözlü sunum olarak sunulmuştu

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