Attitude of mental healthcare providers toward tele-psychiatry services and associated factors at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia

Jibril Bashir Adem; Mequannent Sharew Melaku; Tirualem Zeleke; Muluken Tesfaye; Firaol Lemessa Kitila; Agmasie Damtew Walle

doi:10.1186/s13033-023-00596-5

Attitude of mental healthcare providers toward tele-psychiatry services and associated factors at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia

Int J Ment Health Syst. 2023 Sep 12;17(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13033-023-00596-5.

Authors

Jibril Bashir Adem¹, Mequannent Sharew Melaku², Tirualem Zeleke², Muluken Tesfaye³, Firaol Lemessa Kitila⁴, Agmasie Damtew Walle⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Arsi University, Asela, Ethiopia. adamjibrilbashir@gmail.com.
² Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Arsi University, Asela, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Science, Mettu University, Mettu, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Health systems around the world are struggling with the massive numbers of people with mental disorders who require professional care. The treatment gap for mental disorders is high all over the world, with between 76 and 85% of people in low- and middle-income countries with severe mental disorders receiving no treatment for their mental health conditions. Tele-psychiatry is used as an alternative solution to the problem of limited mental health services and effective Tele-psychiatry service use may be achievable if mental health providers have a good attitude towards it.

Objective: To assess the attitude of mental healthcare providers toward Tele-psychiatry services and associated factors at public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia, 2022.

Method: A Multicenter institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 mental health professionals working in public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa city, from May 04 to June 10, 2022. Data were collected by using a structured and self-administered questionnaire prepared by reviewing previous related studies. Epi Data version 3.1 and Stata version 14 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with attitudes toward Tele-psychiatry services. A statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.

Result: A total of 413 Participants were enrolled with a response rate of 91.8%. The majority of respondents 230 (55.69%) were male and the mean age of participants was 29 years (SD + 5.02). In this study the majority (49%) of mental health care professionals had a poor attitude toward Tele-psychiatry. Having electronic health technology experience [AOR 16.79; 95% CI (4.26, 29.3)], lack of training in telemedicine applications [(AOR 0.1; 95% CI (0.01, 0.41)], a good computer uses for daily work activities [AOR 3.65; 95% CI (1.14, 11.60)], availability of e-Health technology awareness program [AOR 0.16; 95% CI (0.03, 0.90)], having a positive perception about the importance of e-Health technologies[AOR 0.041; 95% CI (0.01, 0.29)] and having good knowledge of Tele-psychiatry services [AOR 6.89; 95% CI (1.8, 12.0)] were significantly associated with attitude towards Tele-psychiatry services.

Conclusion: This study found that mental healthcare providers at a public referral hospital in Addis Ababa city generally had poor attitudes regarding Tele-psychiatry services. Considering the significant factors will improve the attitude to use tele-psychiatry services in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Attitude; Mental health care providers; Tele-psychiatry services.