title: Telehealth service delivery for persons with alcoholism.
abstract: Videoconferencing at a bandwidth of 384 kbit/s was used in open sessions for subjects with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Study participants received eight sessions of group therapy over a four-week period from an accredited addictions counsellor. Outcome assessment included self-report measures, a qualitative interview and a chart review. Of the 18 subjects who started the study, 14 attended at least four sessions of therapy, completed self-report assessments and the thematic interview. The participants reported high levels of satisfaction with telepsychiatry, found the intervention to be highly credible, had good session attendance and attrition comparable to that expected with conventional same-room treatment. In all, 82% of subjects reported that they would recommend the service to a friend or family member. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using videoconferencing for service delivery to adults with AUD, and encourage the future performance of randomized controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina, USA. fruehbc@musc.edu
authors.forename: B Christopher
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Frueh
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000592:standards; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards*