Table 1.
Summary of the survey (N = 102).
| Parameters | Numbers (%) or Mean (SD) |
|---|---|
| Age (year) | 30.8 (±4.1) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 62 (60.8) |
| Female | 40 (39.2) |
| Academic degree | |
| MBBS | 36 (34.6) |
| MD | 60 (57.7) |
| DNB | 2 (1.9) |
| DM (Addiction, Child and adolescent psychiatry etc.) | 4 (3.8) |
| Position | |
| Resident doctor | 70 (67.3) |
| Consultant | 32 (30.8) |
| Affiliation | |
| Tertiary care centre | 74 (72.5) |
| Others | 28 (27.5) |
| State/Union territory | |
| Delhi | 50 (49) |
| Others | 52 (51) |
| If you had any experience of teleconsultation in past? | |
| Yes | 88 (86.3) |
| No | 14 (13.7)* |
| If you kept a record of your consultation? | |
| Yes | 28 (27.5) |
| No | 60 (58.8) |
| NA | 14 (13.7)* |
| Mode of teleconsultation (several responders used multiple modes of teleconsultation) | |
| Voice call | 79 (77.5) |
| Video call | 28 (26.4) |
| Messaging | 52 (51.0) |
| 16 (15.7) | |
| Established telepsychiatry set-up | 8 (7.8) |
| NA | 14 (13.7)* |
| How easy was it to understand patients problem over teleconsultation? | |
| Not at all easy | 2 (2.0) |
| Slightly easy | 4 (3.9) |
| A bit easy | 44 (43.1) |
| Moderately easy | 34 (33.3) |
| Very easy | 4 (3.9) |
| NA | 14 (13.7)* |
| How difficult was it to share prescription with your patient? | |
| Not at all difficult | 12 (11.8) |
| Slightly difficult | 6 (5.9) |
| A bit difficult | 26 (25.5) |
| Moderately difficult | 36 (35.3) |
| Very difficult | 8 (7.8) |
| NA | 14 (13.7)* |
| How likely would you recommend telepsychiatry, based on your experience? (n = 88) | |
| Very unlikely | 1 (1.1) |
| Unlikely | 13 (14.8) |
| Neutral | 24 (27.3) |
| Likely | 38 (43.2) |
| Very likely | 12 (13.6) |
| Do you believe telepsychiatry has any positives? | |
| Yes, many | 64 (62.7) |
| Yes, few | 28 (27.5) |
| Maybe, not sure | 10 (9.8) |
| None | – |
| Telepsychiatry will be able to provide quality mental healthcare to the far-reaching areas of the country | |
| Strongly disagree | – |
| Disagree | 14 (13.7) |
| Neutral | 8 (7.8) |
| Agree | 36 (35.3) |
| Strongly agree | 44 (43.1) |
| Telepsychiatry will be able to reduce the overall cost of public health delivery | |
| Strongly disagree | 2 (2.0) |
| Disagree | 8 (7.8) |
| Neutral | 22 (21.6) |
| Agree | 30 (29.4) |
| Strongly agree | 40 (39.2) |
| Adequate implementation of telepsychiatry will reduce the waiting time of the patients | |
| Strongly disagree | 2 (2.0) |
| Disagree | 4 (3.9) |
| Neutral | 12 (11.8) |
| Agree | 38 (37.3) |
| Strongly agree | 46 (45.1) |
| Follow-up and refilling of medications will be easier with telepsychiatry services | |
| Strongly disagree | 2 (2.0) |
| Disagree | 14 (13.7) |
| Neutral | 16 (15.7) |
| Agree | 40 (39.2) |
| Strongly agree | 30 (29.4) |
| Do you believe telepsychiatry has any negatives? | |
| Yes, many | 14 (13.7) |
| Yes, few | 76 (74.5) |
| Maybe, not sure | 12 (11.8) |
| None | – |
| Lack of in-person contact will cost the doctor-patient relationship and the trust | |
| Strongly disagree | 4 (3.9) |
| Disagree | 12 (11.8) |
| Neutral | 20 (19.6) |
| Agree | 46 (45.1) |
| Strongly agree | 20 (19.6) |
| The digital record keeping will make patients' personal information more vulnerable to get stolen, pirated or hacked | |
| Strongly disagree | 6 (5.9) |
| Disagree | 14 (13.7) |
| Neutral | 24 (23.5) |
| Agree | 38 (37.3) |
| Strongly agree | 20 (19.6) |
| Absence of general and systemic examination would hinder clinical decision making | |
| Strongly disagree | – |
| Disagree | 6 (5.9) |
| Neutral | 10 (9.8) |
| Agree | 44 (43.1) |
| Strongly agree | 42 (41.2) |
| Telepsychiatry will NOT replace the current pattern of patient care in the next 5 years | |
| Strongly disagree | 1 (1.0) |
| Disagree | 13 (12.8) |
| Neutral | 24 (23.5) |
| Agree | 34 (33.3) |
| Strongly agree | 30 (29.4) |
DNB: Diplomat of National Board, NA: Not applicable.