The current use of telepsychiatry, or psychiatric care using videoconferencing, is very limited. The present study investigates the use of this method with a depressed Chinese American population in a nursing home. It is believed that this population can benefit from telepsychiatric treatment when used in collaboration with the primary care they receive in the nursing home.
Individuals at the South Cove Manor nursing home will be referred to this study if they are experiencing depression. After meeting with the Principal Investigator (a psychiatrist), he will collaborate with the primary care physician and the nursing home staff to establish a treatment plan for the patient. Videoconferencing will be used by the P.I. for regular psychiatric visits with the patient as well as meetings with the nursing home staff to coordinate care for the patient. After collaboration between the two groups, treatment suggestions will be given to the patient's primary care physician (PCP) to implement in the primary care setting. The patient's symptomology, mood, satisfaction of life and side effects of medication will be recorded regularly to measure the effects of treatment for analysis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
Antidepressant medication, prescribed at discretion of psychiatrist
Regular care visits from health workers
Depression and Clinical Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
South Cove Manor
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Mean Scores on Clinical Global Impressions
Minimum score - 1 (better outcome) Maximum score - 7 (worse outcome)
Time frame: Baseline, 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
Patient/Family Telepsychiatry Service Satisfaction Survey
Patients' (or their family members' for those who had severe cognitive deficits) satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: "not satisfied", "satisfied", and "highly satisfied."
Time frame: 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
Nurse Telepsychiatry Services Satisfaction Questionnaire
The charge nurse's satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: "not satisfied", "satisfied", and "highly satisfied."
Time frame: 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
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