Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
We are carrying out a study to investigate the use of telepsychiatry/teleconsultation for the care of patients with chronic mental illness in the community. We will be using videoconferencing facilities approved by the Hospital Trust Board. We will want to look for benefits from the use of this technology in improving the quality of patient care, including improving access to care for certain patient groups with poor engagement, within a community setting.
Who can participate?
Participants between the ages of 18 and 65, who are well known to their clinicians (Community Psychiatric Nurses or CPNs), with diagnoses of chronic mental illnesses, from a community mental health team base in Leicestershire.
What does the study involve?
Over a period of six months, all participants alternate their routine face-to-face reviews with teleconsultations. The consultations, both face to face and teleconsultation, are conducted by their respective CPNs. This method was chosen as it helps both patient and clinician (CPN) evaluate the risks and benefits. The frequency of both face to face and teleconsultations is at the discretion of the clinician and the patient. Both patient and clinicians are trained to use the teleconsultation software.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
One potential benefit to patients taking part in this study is that they will receive treatment, even when they are not able to attend their outpatient clinic appointments and medication reviews (due tom for example, childcare issues, physical health issues such as pain or a mental health issue, such as a phobia). They will also benefit from a reduction in the time spend travelling and reduced costs from travel. Other potential long term benefit is frequent contact with their clinicians, potentially reducing relapses and hospital admissions. Clinicians may benefit from a reduction in time taken, and money spent, to travel to visit their patients. Risks include a patients mental state or circumstances changing suddenly and making teleconsultation unsuitable. Patients and clinicians may also find that teleconsultations are untherapeutic and may not want to continue with the study.
Where is the study run from?
The study will be run from a community mental health team base within Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (UK)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2015 to January 2016
Who is funding the study?
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Suneeta James
Suneeta.James@leicspart.nhs.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Suneeta James
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2610-8058
Contact details
Bradgate Unit
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9EJ
United Kingdom
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
14/NW/0100
Study information
Scientific title
A feasibility study on the effectiveness of teleconsultation in monitoring patients with mental illness by the Community Mental Health Team
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Is it feasible to develop a trial investigating the use of telemedicine to monitor patients with severe mental illness in the community?
Ethics approval
NRES Committee North West - Preston, 18/02/2014, ref: 14/NW/0100
Study design
Single-centre interventional trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Community
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Condition
Improving the quality of patient care, including improving access to care for certain patient groups with poor engagement, within an outpatient setting
Intervention
1. Each patient alternates between both interventions i.e., regular face to face contact and teleconsultation, to help both patients and clinicians evaluate the risks and benefits effectively
2. Participants who agree to participate in the study will be offered face to face contact alternating with teleconsultations with their Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN)
3. 20 participants will be recruited in total. Patients will be asked to complete the consent form before entering into the study. Treatment for those declining to participate in the study will be offered as per normal practice.
4. Both participant and CPNs will be asked to complete a Service User Evaluation form and a Clinician Satisfaction form after each consultation.
Intervention type
Device
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
1. To assess the feasibility of the method (teleconsultation) with this group of patients (Service user Satisfaction Questionnaire), the recruitment and application of the clinical care using telemedicine
2. To ascertain the number of non attendances and/or cancellations
3. To ascertain the reason for dropouts in this study. This will be explored via short interviews with therapists
4. Numbers of participants recruited in this feasibility study
5. Time saved from travelling
6. Clinical feedback after sessions
Secondary outcome measures
1. Clinician satisfaction on teleconsultation as measured on Clinician Experience Form
2. Cost analysis based on Clinician time sheets for service users and clinicians
Overall trial start date
15/06/2015
Overall trial end date
15/01/2016
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Patients diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and who are looked after by the community mental health team
2. Patients between the age of 18 and 65 years
3. Patients who have been known to a Community Psychiatric Nurse for duration of at least 3 months
4. Patients who have not had any acute episodes (admission) for one year
5. Patients who are clinically stable with no significant risk to themselves or others
6. Patients should have access to internet and wifi at home and should have basic computer literacy (as judged by the CPN)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
20
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Patients who are acutely unwell with a diagnosis of a major mental disorder such as psychosis or bipolar disorder requiring significant community care or immediate hospital admission
2. Patients requiring urgent assessment and intervention or a home visit
3. Patient not capable of consenting
4. Patients with no wifi at home
5. Patients who are at moderate to severe risk of self harm
Recruitment start date
15/06/2015
Recruitment end date
15/07/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
Charitable Funding from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The trial results will be published on completion of the trial. I am unable to give a publication date presently as the trial has not yet commenced.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Available on request
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary