Clinical Report: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Video, Telephone, and Face-to-Face Mental Health Services
Overview
This study evaluates the comparative effectiveness of video, telephone, and in-person mental health services among veterans.
Background
The shift to tele-mental health services has become increasingly significant, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. With a substantial portion of mental health services now delivered remotely, understanding the effectiveness of different modalities is crucial for optimizing patient care.
Data Highlights
This study analyzed VA administrative data from veterans who completed at least three outpatient mental health appointments between July 2021 and October 2022, categorizing them into video, phone, or in-person cohorts based on their predominant care modality.
Key Findings
Video care was associated with lower rates of mental health hospitalization compared to phone care.
Veterans receiving video care had fewer emergency department visits than those using phone care.
Higher appointment completion rates were observed in the video care group compared to the phone care group.
No significant differences in outcomes were found between video and in-person care, except for appointment completion rates.
Clinical Implications
The findings suggest that video-based mental health services may offer advantages over phone-based services in terms of hospitalization and emergency visits. Clinicians may consider prioritizing video visits to enhance patient engagement and treatment outcomes.
Conclusion
This study evaluates the effectiveness of video mental health services compared to phone services.
by Samantha L. Connolly, Rebecca A. Raciborski, Hassen Abdulkerim, Timothy P. Hogan, Jan A. Lindsay, Leonie Heyworth, Jennifer L. Sullivan, Kendra R. Weaver, Stephanie L. Shimada, Christopher J. Miller
