Graduation Year

2015

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Department Name when Degree Awarded

Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Evelyn M. Parrish

Department Affiliation

Nursing

Second Advisor

Mary DeLetter

Department Affiliation

Nursing

Third Advisor

Gina L. Purdue

Department Affiliation

Nursing

Abstract

While telepsychiatry has been championed as a method to improve access to care and health care delivery to remote regions, the willingness of rural patients to receive psychiatric treatment via telehealth technology remains uncertain (Rohland, Saleh, Rohrer, & Romitti, 2000). Published studies concerning general patient satisfaction with telemedicine are available; however, there is little focus on satisfaction of specialized telepsychiatric care to rural mentally ill adults. A capstone project was conducted to examine the acceptability and satisfaction of telepsychiatry in a rural Kentucky mental health clinic. Patient satisfaction with the modality was assessed using the Telemedicine Satisfaction and Usefulness Questionnaire (TSUQ) (Bakken et al, 2006). Results from the pilot revealed that the majority of participants were generally satisfied with the telepsychiatry intervention, yet responses were not as positive as suggested in previous literature. The project uncovered issues with technology, including poor connectivity and delay in audio-visual transmission, which could be improved to enhance the delivery of telepsychiatric care. Broader applications for telepsychiatry in clinical practice continue to stimulate enhancement and expansion of services.

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