ERIC Number: EJ769017
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 7
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0002-726X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Telemental Health Technology in Deaf and General Mental-Health Services: Access and Use
Austen, Sally; McGrath, Melissa
American Annals of the Deaf, v151 n3 p311-317 Sum 2006
Long-distance travel to provide mental health services for deaf people has implications for efficiency, safety, and equality of service. However, uptake of Telemental Health (TMH) has been slow in both deaf and general mental health services. A quantitative study was used to investigate access to TMH and whether staff confidence, experience, or demographics affect TMH use. It was concluded that staff in neither deaf mental health services nor general mental health services had adequate knowledge of or access to TMH. Staff expressed concerns over TMH's appropriateness in their work. Previous use of videoconferencing was associated significantly with confidence, but previous use of videophones was not. Neither staff in deaf services nor deaf staff were more experienced with or more confident about videoconferencing, whereas, within deaf services, deaf staff were significantly more confident about videophone use. Training implications are discussed. (Contains 4 figures and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Health Services, Deafness, Mental Health Programs, Computer Mediated Communication, Access to Health Care, Allied Health Personnel, Interactive Video, Assistive Technology, Attitude Measures
Gallaudet University Press. 800 Florida Avenue NE, Denison House, Washington, DC 20002-3695. Tel: 202-651-5488; Fax: 202-651-5489; Web site: http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/annals/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A