TY - JOUR
KW - eDiagnostics
KW - general practitioner
KW - mental health disorders
KW - practice nurse
KW - prevention
KW - primary care.
AU - I. Dijksman
AU - G. J. Dinant
AU - M. G. Spigt
A1 - 
AB - INTRODUCTION: There is a growing interest in eHealth applications in daily health care. Considering that a psychological examination, to a large extent, consists of filling out questionnaires, the use of the Internet seems logical. We evaluated an eDiagnostic system for mental health disorders that has recently been introduced in primary care in the Netherlands. METHODS: We monitored the diagnoses produced by the system. Evaluation questionnaires from both GPs/practice nurses (PNs) and patients were collected. In addition, we compared the advice produced by the GPs/PNs and the advice produced by the system. RESULTS: The most prevalent disorders were mood, anxiety and somatoform disorders (n = 353). Patients (n = 242; 74% response rate) were moderately enthusiastic about the eHealth approach, and GPs/PNs (n = 49, 72% response rate per practice) were very enthusiastic. Patients showed no clear preference for a face-to-face consultation with a psychologist over an eDiagnostic system. GPs/PNs felt strengthened in their control function. In most cases, the system gave a different echelon advice (i.e. referral to primary or secondary mental health care) than the GPs/PNs (kappa = 0.13, P = 0.003). Nevertheless, GPs/PNs accept the results of the examination and the advice given. CONCLUSIONS: Using the Internet to diagnose mental health problems in primary care seems very promising. This system of using eDiagnostics before referral to a mental health institution may change the management of mental health care. Further research should investigate whether this tool is valid, reliable and (cost) effective.
BT - Family practice
C5 - HIT & Telehealth; Medically Unexplained Symptoms
CP - 6
CY - England
DO - 10.1093/fampra/cmt046
IS - 6
JF - Family practice
N2 - INTRODUCTION: There is a growing interest in eHealth applications in daily health care. Considering that a psychological examination, to a large extent, consists of filling out questionnaires, the use of the Internet seems logical. We evaluated an eDiagnostic system for mental health disorders that has recently been introduced in primary care in the Netherlands. METHODS: We monitored the diagnoses produced by the system. Evaluation questionnaires from both GPs/practice nurses (PNs) and patients were collected. In addition, we compared the advice produced by the GPs/PNs and the advice produced by the system. RESULTS: The most prevalent disorders were mood, anxiety and somatoform disorders (n = 353). Patients (n = 242; 74% response rate) were moderately enthusiastic about the eHealth approach, and GPs/PNs (n = 49, 72% response rate per practice) were very enthusiastic. Patients showed no clear preference for a face-to-face consultation with a psychologist over an eDiagnostic system. GPs/PNs felt strengthened in their control function. In most cases, the system gave a different echelon advice (i.e. referral to primary or secondary mental health care) than the GPs/PNs (kappa = 0.13, P = 0.003). Nevertheless, GPs/PNs accept the results of the examination and the advice given. CONCLUSIONS: Using the Internet to diagnose mental health problems in primary care seems very promising. This system of using eDiagnostics before referral to a mental health institution may change the management of mental health care. Further research should investigate whether this tool is valid, reliable and (cost) effective.
PP - England
PY - 2013
SN - 1460-2229; 0263-2136
SP - 695
EP - 704
EP - 
T1 - eDiagnostics: a promising step towards primary mental health care
T2 - Family practice
TI - eDiagnostics: a promising step towards primary mental health care
U1 - HIT & Telehealth; Medically Unexplained Symptoms
U2 - 24000262
U3 - 10.1093/fampra/cmt046
VL - 30
VO - 1460-2229; 0263-2136
Y1 - 2013
ER -