title: Use of videoconferencing in Norwegian psychiatry.
abstract: We conducted a national survey about access to and use of videoconferencing in Norwegian mental health care. A questionnaire was mailed to 300 institutions, with 113 returned (38%). Attitudes towards videoconferencing were positive. 58 of the respondents had access to videoconferencing equipment. 51 institutions had used videoconferencing in the previous year. Geographical and climatic factors and travel-related strain were predictors of access. Videoconferencing was mostly used for meetings, supervision and lectures, and to a lesser degree was used clinically, with the patient present. 90% of the institutions had experienced videoconferencing as useful. Lack of videoconferencing equipment in collaborating institutions was an inhibiting factor for use. There is a gap between the potential of videoconferencing and its actual utilization in Norway's mental health sector.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Borghild
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.forename: Silje C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wangberg
authors.forename: Deede
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gammon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009664:Norway; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*