Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea
Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has worsened mental health and reduced access to mental health services. During the pandemic, the demand for telemedicine has increased and related laws have been enacted. This study aimed to investigate telemedicine use for cases...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05258-x |
| _version_ | 1797451825806311424 |
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| author | Kyoung Hoon Kim Sang Min Lee Minha Hong Kyu-Man Han Jong-Woo Paik |
| author_facet | Kyoung Hoon Kim Sang Min Lee Minha Hong Kyu-Man Han Jong-Woo Paik |
| author_sort | Kyoung Hoon Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has worsened mental health and reduced access to mental health services. During the pandemic, the demand for telemedicine has increased and related laws have been enacted. This study aimed to investigate telemedicine use for cases of major mental illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare the characteristics of patients who received telemedicine service with those of patients who received in-person care. Methods This population-based, cross-sectional, observational study was based on health insurance claims data, and included 2,749,872 patients who received outpatient treatment for mental illness from February 24, 2020 to June 30, 2022. Logistic regression was performed to assess the relationships between patient characteristics and telemedicine service use. Patients who received telemedicine services were analyzed in subgroups of each mental illness. Results During the study period, 80,157 patients (2.9%), with an average age of 63 years, received at least one telemedicine treatment. There was a predominance of women and medical aid recipients. The lowest proportion of telemedicine treatments was for depression (2.1%), and the highest was for dementia (6.7%). The proportion of patients receiving telemedicine in long-term care hospitals was high (22.6%), with the highest odds ratio (OR) (5.84), compared with that in tertiary or general hospitals, followed by that in psychiatric hospitals and clinics. The proportions were high in the departments of internal medicine, neurology, and psychiatry. Patients aged > 80 years received most telemedicine treatment (OR: 1.23) across all diagnoses. Cases of dementia and other mental disorders had higher ORs (2.60 and 2.36, respectively) compared with cases of depression. Except for dementia and behavioral/emotional disorders, hospitalization increased the probability of telemedicine treatment. Comorbidities were positively associated with telemedicine treatment. Conclusions Older people and people with other physical illnesses were more likely to use telemedicine treatments temporarily provided during the pandemic. Telemedicine maintained continuity of treatment for patients with dementia and severe mental illnesses. Telemedicine can be useful for filling the medical gaps for vulnerable populations other than those with mild mental illnesses. This aspect should be considered for the future establishment of telemedicine systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:59:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67424162a45c4971b829e9b5a84a39e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:59:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-67424162a45c4971b829e9b5a84a39e32023-11-26T13:56:52ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-10-0123111010.1186/s12888-023-05258-xTrends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in KoreaKyoung Hoon Kim0Sang Min Lee1Minha Hong2Kyu-Man Han3Jong-Woo Paik4Department of Health Administration, College of Nursing and Health, Kongju National UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University College of MedicineUNC Neuroscience Center, University of North CarolinaDepartment of Psychiatry, Korea University College of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University College of MedicineAbstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has worsened mental health and reduced access to mental health services. During the pandemic, the demand for telemedicine has increased and related laws have been enacted. This study aimed to investigate telemedicine use for cases of major mental illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare the characteristics of patients who received telemedicine service with those of patients who received in-person care. Methods This population-based, cross-sectional, observational study was based on health insurance claims data, and included 2,749,872 patients who received outpatient treatment for mental illness from February 24, 2020 to June 30, 2022. Logistic regression was performed to assess the relationships between patient characteristics and telemedicine service use. Patients who received telemedicine services were analyzed in subgroups of each mental illness. Results During the study period, 80,157 patients (2.9%), with an average age of 63 years, received at least one telemedicine treatment. There was a predominance of women and medical aid recipients. The lowest proportion of telemedicine treatments was for depression (2.1%), and the highest was for dementia (6.7%). The proportion of patients receiving telemedicine in long-term care hospitals was high (22.6%), with the highest odds ratio (OR) (5.84), compared with that in tertiary or general hospitals, followed by that in psychiatric hospitals and clinics. The proportions were high in the departments of internal medicine, neurology, and psychiatry. Patients aged > 80 years received most telemedicine treatment (OR: 1.23) across all diagnoses. Cases of dementia and other mental disorders had higher ORs (2.60 and 2.36, respectively) compared with cases of depression. Except for dementia and behavioral/emotional disorders, hospitalization increased the probability of telemedicine treatment. Comorbidities were positively associated with telemedicine treatment. Conclusions Older people and people with other physical illnesses were more likely to use telemedicine treatments temporarily provided during the pandemic. Telemedicine maintained continuity of treatment for patients with dementia and severe mental illnesses. Telemedicine can be useful for filling the medical gaps for vulnerable populations other than those with mild mental illnesses. This aspect should be considered for the future establishment of telemedicine systems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05258-xCOVID-19 pandemicMental illnessTelemedicine utilization |
| spellingShingle | Kyoung Hoon Kim Sang Min Lee Minha Hong Kyu-Man Han Jong-Woo Paik Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea BMC Psychiatry COVID-19 pandemic Mental illness Telemedicine utilization |
| title | Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea |
| title_full | Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea |
| title_fullStr | Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea |
| title_short | Trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of a nationwide database in Korea |
| title_sort | trends in telemedicine utilization for mental illness during the covid 19 pandemic an analysis of a nationwide database in korea |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic Mental illness Telemedicine utilization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05258-x |
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