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Prabhune A, Bhat S, Mallavaram A, Mehar Shagufta A, Srinivasan S. A Situational Analysis of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health Research Initiatives in South Asia. Cureus 2023; 15:e48977. [PMID: 38111408 PMCID: PMC10726017 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this paper was to evaluate and compare the quantity and sustainability of digital health initiatives in the South Asia region before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used a two-step methodology of (a) descriptive analysis of digital health research articles published from 2016 to 2021 from South Asia in terms of stratification of research articles based on diseases and conditions they were developed, geography, and tasks wherein the initiative was applied and (b) a simple and replicable tool developed by authors to assess the sustainability of digital health initiatives using experimental or observational study designs. The results of the descriptive analysis highlight the following: (a) there was a 40% increase in the number of studies reported in 2020 when compared to 2019; (b) the three most common areas wherein substantive digital health research has been focused are health systems strengthening, ophthalmic disorders, and COVID-19; and (c) remote consultation, health information delivery, and clinical decision support systems are the top three commonly developed tools. We developed and estimated the inter-rater operability of the sustainability assessment tool ascertained with a Kappa value of 0.806 (±0.088). We conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive impact on digital health research with an improvement in the number of digital health initiatives and an improvement in the sustainability score of studies published during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Prabhune
- Health and Information Technology, Institute of Health Management Research, Bangalore, IND
| | - Sachin Bhat
- Health and Information Technology, Institute of Health Management Research, Bangalore, IND
| | | | | | - Surya Srinivasan
- Health and Information Technology, Institute of Health Management Research, Bangalore, IND
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Gupta N, Gupta MK, Joshi NK, Mantri N, Sridevi G, Patel M, Goel AD, Singh K, Garg MK, Bhardwaj P. Is telemedicine a holy grail in healthcare policy: clinicians' and patients' perspectives from an Apex Institution in Western India. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:161. [PMID: 36793030 PMCID: PMC9930698 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-09013-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the perception of doctors regarding telemedicine consultations and the level of patient satisfaction with the services received through teleconsultations. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on clinicians who provided teleconsultations and patients who received teleconsultations in an Apex healthcare institution in Western India. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to record the quantitative and qualitative information. Clinicians' perceptions and patients' satisfaction were assessed using two different 5-point Likert scales. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23 using non-parametric tests (Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U). RESULTS A total of 52 clinicians who delivered teleconsultations and 134 patients who received teleconsultations from those doctors were interviewed in this study. For 69% of doctors, telemedicine was feasible to implement, and for the rest, it was challenging. Doctors believe telemedicine is convenient for patients (77%) and prevents the transmission of infection (94.2%). Difficulty in clinical evaluation (73%), communication (55.7%), network connectivity (34%), diagnosis and investigations (32%), and patients' e-illiteracy (32%) were the most common challenges faced by clinicians. Patients' experiences were positive in terms of ease of registration (82.1%), audio quality (100%), freedom to discuss medicine (94.8%), and comprehension of the diagnoses (88.1%). Patients expressed satisfaction with the length of the teleconsultation (81.4%), the advice and care they received (78.4%), and the manner and communication of the clinicians (78.4%). CONCLUSIONS Though there were some challenges in the implementation of telemedicine, the clinicians perceived it quite helpful. The majority of the patients were satisfied with teleconsultation services. Difficulty in registration, lack of communication, and a deep-rooted mindset of physical consultations were the primary concerns from the patient side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nainsi Gupta
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Manoj Kumar Gupta
- School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. .,Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Nitin Kumar Joshi
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Neha Mantri
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - G. Sridevi
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Mamta Patel
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Akhil Dhanesh Goel
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - M. K. Garg
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - Pankaj Bhardwaj
- grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140School of Public Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India ,grid.463267.20000 0004 4681 1140Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
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Malik K, Shetty T, Mathur S, Jose JE, Mathews R, Sahay M, Chauhan P, Nair P, Patel V, Michelson D. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Remote Stepped Care Mental Health Programme for Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in India. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1722. [PMID: 36767090 PMCID: PMC9914840 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Remote mental health services were rapidly deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet there is relatively little contemporaneous evidence on their feasibility and acceptability. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a stepped care mental health programme delivered remotely by lay counsellors to adolescents in New Delhi, India, during a period of 'lockdown'. The programme consisted of a brief problem-solving intervention ("Step 1") followed by a tailored behavioural module ("Step 2") for non-responders. We enrolled 34 participants (M age = 16.4 years) with a self-identified need for psychological support. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through quantitative process indicators and qualitative interviews (n = 17 adolescents; n = 5 counsellors). Thirty-one (91%) adolescents started Step 1 and 16 (52%) completed the planned Step 1 protocol. Twelve (75%) of the Step 1 completers were non-responsive. Eight (67%) non-responsive cases started Step 2, all of whom met response criteria when reassessed at 12 weeks post-enrolment. Adolescents favoured voice-only sessions over video-calls due to privacy concerns and difficulties accessing suitable devices. Counsellors noted challenges of completing remote sessions within the allotted time while recognising the importance of supervision for developing competence in new ways of working. Both adolescents and counsellors discussed the importance of working collaboratively and flexibly to fit around individual preferences and circumstances. Disentangling pandemic-specific barriers from more routine challenges to remote delivery should be a focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Malik
- Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat 13100, India
- PRIDE Project, Sangath, New Delhi 110030, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pooja Nair
- PRIDE Project, Sangath, New Delhi 110030, India
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Michelson
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
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Shetty KV, Sharma U, Kalyanasundaram M, Kumar S, Bamney U. Protocol for developing telephone-based brief psychosocial intervention for COVID-19 patients in India. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:5479-5484. [PMID: 36505530 PMCID: PMC9730994 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1522_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge mental health impact on people, especially the infected population. They are at greater risk of developing psychological symptoms due to the fear of death and developing severe disability, lack of proper treatment and social restrictions, stigma, and discrimination. The early psychological symptoms, if ignored, may have long-term consequences on the health and well-being of COVID patients. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health services have been impacted negatively, and the need for technology-based psychological interventions has been identified as an alternative treatment method. Hence, the Telephone-Based Brief Psycho-Social interventions (TBPSI) will be developed for COVID-19 patients. Materials and Method A five-session tele psychosocial intervention including rapport establishment and assessment, supportive counselling, activity scheduling, relaxation technique, and post-assessment will be developed based on the extensive review of the literature. Face and content validation of the intervention package will be done by the mental health experts. Further, the feasibility of the intervention program will be tested on COVID-19 patients in the Dharwad district, and later, the same will be implemented across the COVID hospitals of Karnataka state. Discussion and Conclusion The study results may bring new insights into the culturally sensitive technology-oriented interventions during this pandemic in the country. The paradigm may be shifted from routine treatment to cost-effective and time-based intervention in the public health system in India. The telephonic brief psychosocial interventions can be utilised as a mainstream treatment during non-emergency situations as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannappa V. Shetty
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (DIMHANS), Dharwad, Karnataka, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Kannappa V. Shetty, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (DIMHANS), Dharwad - 580 008, Karnataka, India. E-mail:
| | - Upasana Sharma
- MD, Ph.D, Independent Public Health Researcher, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Madhanraj Kalyanasundaram
- MD Scientist- D, Division of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, ICMR-NIREH, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Ph.D. Assistant Professor of PSW, Centre for PSS in Disaster Management, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Urmila Bamney
- M. Phil. Scholar, Department of Social Work, Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India
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Duggal C, Dua B, Kothari A. Holding space for those who heal: Reflections from the Rahbar Supportive Supervision Programme during the Covid 19 pandemic. CLINICAL SUPERVISOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/07325223.2022.2111624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chetna Duggal
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Bakul Dua
- School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Arushi Kothari
- Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Emran A, Smith JA, Iqbal N. Psychotherapists’ experience of the transition to telepsychotherapy amidst COVID-19 in India. COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY QUARTERLY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2022.2093164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashti Emran
- Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Jonathan A. Smith
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Naved Iqbal
- Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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Singh S, Sagar R. Online Psychotherapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Indian J Psychol Med 2022; 44:177-180. [PMID: 35655984 PMCID: PMC9120993 DOI: 10.1177/02537176211070427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Swarndeep Singh
- Dept. of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Sagar
- Dept. of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India
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Singh S, Sagar R. Tele mental health helplines during the COVID-19 pandemic: Do we need guidelines? Asian J Psychiatr 2022; 67:102916. [PMID: 34781242 PMCID: PMC8572038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Swarndeep Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Sagar
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
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