Psychiatrists’ Readiness for Digital Psychiatry in Pakistan: A Multicenter CrossSectional Study with Regression Analysis

Abstract

Introduction

The concept of digital psychiatry, encompassing technologies such as mental health apps, Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and telepsychiatry, emerges as a potential solution to bridge the existing gaps in the mental health system of Pakistan. However, one of the major barriers to the implementation of these technologies is hesitancy to adopt digital tools by psychiatrists.

Objectives

This study aims to explore the current understanding of digital psychiatry, the barriers faced by psychiatrists in its’ widespread implementation, and their willingness to adopt these services in clinical practice.

Methods

This cross-sectional study surveyed psychiatrists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on digital psychiatry from 39 public hospitals across Pakistan using an online validated questionnaire from January to July 2023. Participants included psychiatry residents, fellows, and consultants practicing in Pakistan. Responses were analyzed with Raosoft software, Quirkos, and SPSS 26 using thematic analysis and correlation.

Results

A total of 200 participants responded to the questionnaire, primarily in the age range of 20-30 years (56%). The gender distribution was 55% male (N = 111) and 45% female (N = 89). Among the professional roles, 23% were consultants, 7% were registrars, 54% were psychiatry residents, and 17% were medical officers. Respondents came from both rural (N = 148, 74%) and urban (N = 52, 26%) practice settings. Regarding telepsychiatry, 46% strongly agreed that they are familiar with telepsychiatry, while 58% agreed that telepsychiatry can save time and money. Additionally, 22% strongly agreed that it’s a viable approach for patient care. Concerning perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in digital psychiatry readiness, only 40% of participants had received AI training. However, 55% expressed interest in collaborating with international centers on AI-related projects. In terms of mental health apps, 62% of respondents reported limited familiarity with them. Nevertheless, 65% believed that these apps could potentially save time and money for psychiatric health systems. Lastly, concerning Virtual Reality (VR) in psychiatric care, 57% of participants were familiar with VR technology, but only 43% were acquainted with its applications in psychiatry. Notably, 71% did not view VR as a viable replacement for in-person psychiatric management.

Conclusions

This is the first study conducted on understanding digital psychiatry in Pakistan’s healthcare system, which revealed multiple challenges to digital health competency among psychiatrists. This emphasizes on the need for formal training and funding towards resources to overcome obstacles in utilizing mental health technologies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared