Kirsi Bykachev, Kerttu Tossavainen, Kirsti Kumpulainen; University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Philip Wilson, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Catrine Kostenius (presenter), Gunvor Gard, Eva Lindgren; Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
Siri Bjørvig, Morten Borgen; University Hospital of North Norway, Norway
Introduction. The demand for child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) services often exceeds service capacity in sparsely populated rural areas. The lack of appropriate services may be damaging in conditions sensitive to neurodevelop- mental maturation processes. Here we present The eHealth Services for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – the eCAP project, which is one attempt to solve the problem of providing CAP services in peripheral areas.
Methods. The eCAP project include partners from Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Scottish Highlands in 2015-2018 and is financed by the Northern
Periphery and Arctic Programme. The project builds upon transnational learning and knowledge exchange between the partner regions.
We aim to develop consultation, diagnosis, supervision, treatment and
collaboration through modern information technology (IT). The intervention target groups are children and adolescents with mental health illness in
remote areas. It also involves their families and professionals in primary and special health care, social care, and education.
We will develop and pilot operational models according to each region’s needs. For example, video conferencing will be tested as a setting for
distant psychiatric treatment, and the use and suitability of the Development and Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) in primary health care will be studied. Potential outcomes. Proficient consultation supports early identification and treatment of psychiatric problems, which may lead to a more rapid
recovery. Increased co-operation between primary and specialized services optimizes resource use. Developmental environments (schools, daycare) can be better involved in the treatment process. Also burdensome travel for children and their families will decrease allowing more time for family activities supporting recovery. Services will be available to an increased number of
citizens, and society’s resources will be used more effectively.
Conclusions. Utilizing IT in developing new models for providing CAP services should increase equity, as the needed services will be better
available in remote, sparsely populated areas, and should contribute to the
potential for young mental health patients to live a better life and be able to optimize their educational experience. Providing sufficient, timely outpatient CAP services is a global challenge. As the eCAP project’s solutions will be developed in a transnational process and evaluated accordingly, the results will most likely be useful in many other regions and countries.
Further information: http://www.ehealthresearch.no/eCAP
22nd IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion ID number 8338
Improving Psychiatry
Services for Children and
Adolescents with eHealth
in Peripheral Areas
Norwegian Centre for
E-Health Research
Photo: Colourbox
Norway Finland Scotland Sweden
Contact: Catrine Kostenius, PhD, Associate Professor (presenter)
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Sciences, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden. E-mail: catkos@ltu.se. Phone: +46 (0)920-493288. Mobile: +46 (0)70-200046
