The effect of telepsychiatric modalities on reduction of readmissions in psychiatric settings: A systematic review.
Introduction Telepsychiatric modalities are used widely in the treatment of many mental illnesses. It has also been proposed that telepsychiatric modalities could be a way to reduce readmissions. The purpose of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the effects of telepsychiatric modalities on readmissions in psychiatric settings. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO and Joanna Briggs databases in October 2015. Inclusion criteria were (a) patients with a psychiatric diagnosis, (b) telepsychiatric interventions and (c) an outcome related to readmission. Results The database search identified 218 potential studies, of which eight were eligible for the review. Studies were of varying quality and there was a tendency towards low-quality studies (five studies) which found positive outcomes regarding readmission, whereas the more methodological sound studies (three studies) found no effect of telepsychiatric modalities on readmission rates. Discussion Previous studies have proven the effectiveness of telepsychiatric modalities in the treatment of various mental illnesses. However, in the present systematic review we were unable to find an effect of telepsychiatric modalities on the rate of readmission. Some studies found a reduced rate of readmissions, but the poor methodological quality make the findings questionable. At the present time there is no evidence to support the use of telepsychiatry due to heterogeneous interventions, heterogeneous patient groups and lack of high-quality studies.
1 Research and Development, University College Capital, Denmark.|2 Physiotherapy Programme, University College Capital, Denmark.
Henrik
H
Koblauch
1 Research and Development, University College Capital, Denmark.|3 Nursing Programme, University College Capital, Denmark.
Sasha M
SM
Reinhardt
1 Research and Development, University College Capital, Denmark.|3 Nursing Programme, University College Capital, Denmark.
Waltraut
W
Lissau
1 Research and Development, University College Capital, Denmark.|3 Nursing Programme, University College Capital, Denmark.
Pia-Lis
PL
Jensen
D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D013689:Telephone; D049269:Videoconferencing
Telepsychiatry; readmissions; telephone calls; videoconference
J Telemed Telecare. 2017 Feb;23 (2):225-232
26915366
Diabetes Technol Ther. 2016 Jun;18(6):385-90
27196443
Healthc Inform Res. 2015 Oct;21(4):307-14
26618038
J Telemed Telecare. 2012 Jan;18(1):17-9
22052966
J Med Internet Res. 2015 Nov 13;17(11):e258
26567061
J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2015 Dec;22(10 ):811-20
26176646
Schizophr Bull. 2014 Nov;40(6):1244-53
24609454
Am J Manag Care. 2011 Oct 01;17(10):e375-82
21999717
J Telemed Telecare. 2002;8 Suppl 2:113-5
12217162
JAMA. 2009 Nov 18;302(19):2095-103
19918088
J Psychiatr Pract. 2012 Jul;18(4):269-80
22805901
Telemed J E Health. 2016 Oct;22(10 ):855-864
26906927
Telemed J E Health. 2006 Oct;12(5):515-20
17042703
Schizophr Res. 2008 Jan;98(1-3):312-7
17920245
J Clin Epidemiol. 1998 Dec;51(12):1235-41
10086815
Psychiatr Serv. 2005 Jun;56(6):652-4
15939940
Lancet. 2016 Jan 30;387(10017):408-10
26560248
Telemed J E Health. 2015 Jan;21(1):3-8
25453392
Telemed J E Health. 2016 Aug;22(8):624-30
26954880
Psychiatr Serv. 2012 Apr;63(4):383-5
22476305
BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Apr 18;16:134
27091459
J Clin Psychol. 2015 Jun;71(6):500-12
25809565
J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2016 May-Jun;31(3):E10-22
26544175
Psychiatr Serv. 2013 Jan;64(1):13-20
23117443