Service Users' Experience of Telemedicine in an Adult Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, a Pilot Project in Ireland

Background: Due to the shortage of consultant psychiatrists in Ireland, telemedicine was introduced to the North Kerry Community Mental Health services. Telemedicine allows service users to attend the outpatient clinic while the consultant psychiatrist works remotely from another European Union (EU) country. This approach ensured continuity of care for service users. The current study is part of a national pilot of telemedicine in the Irish health services and aims to explore service users' experience of telemedicine in an adult mental health outpatient clinic in Ireland. Methods: A qualitative approach was used to explore service users' experience of telemedicine in an adult mental health outpatient clinic. Twelve service users participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three key themes emerged from the data. The first theme of Positive Attitudes Towards Telernedicine included subthemes of Curiosity Towards an Unfamiliar Telernedicine Experience and Gratitude for the Option ofTelemedicine. The second theme of Navigating the Experience of Telernedicine included subthemes of the Inevitability of Technical Issues and Establishing Therapeutic Rapport Through Telemedicine. The final theme The Future of Telemedicine in Mental Health Services included subthemes of Location Dynamics: At Home versus The Clinic, Balancing Technology with Human Connection and Embracing the Potential: Optimism for Telemedicine's Future. Conclusion: Service users value telemedicine and find it as satisfactory as face-to-face appointments. However, they prefer a hybrid model that combines both telemedicine and in­person appointments, as telemedicine cannot fully replace face-to-face care. The findings provide valuable insight into service users' experiences with telemedicine in an adult mental health outpatient clinic and may have implications for future service development.