Psychological distress and digital health service use during COVID-19: A national Australian cross-sectional survey.
COVID-19 pandemic
digital health
mental health
psychological distress
telehealth
Journal
Frontiers in psychiatry
ISSN: 1664-0640
Titre abrégé: Front Psychiatry
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101545006
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
received:
26
08
2022
accepted:
04
10
2022
entrez:
7
11
2022
pubmed:
8
11
2022
medline:
8
11
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Previous research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the lives and mental health of Australians. In response, health services adapted rapidly to digital modes of treatment, prevention and care. Although a large amount of research emerged in the first year of the pandemic, the longer-term mental health impacts, contributing factors, and population-level utilization of digital health services are unknown. A population-based online survey of 5,100 Australians adults was conducted in October 2021. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale. Additional survey questions included use and satisfaction with digital health services. Where available, data were compared with our previous survey conducted in 2018, permitting an examination of pre- and post-pandemic digital health service utilization. In 2021, almost a quarter ( Rates of serious psychological distress during the second year of the pandemic remained high, providing further evidence for the serious impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the general population. Those with psychological distress accessed digital mental health services and were satisfied with the care they received. The results highlight the continued need for mental health support and digital health services, particularly for people living with chronic conditions, younger adults and people most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the short term and beyond.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
Previous research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the lives and mental health of Australians. In response, health services adapted rapidly to digital modes of treatment, prevention and care. Although a large amount of research emerged in the first year of the pandemic, the longer-term mental health impacts, contributing factors, and population-level utilization of digital health services are unknown.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
A population-based online survey of 5,100 Australians adults was conducted in October 2021. Psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale. Additional survey questions included use and satisfaction with digital health services. Where available, data were compared with our previous survey conducted in 2018, permitting an examination of pre- and post-pandemic digital health service utilization.
Results
UNASSIGNED
In 2021, almost a quarter (
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
Rates of serious psychological distress during the second year of the pandemic remained high, providing further evidence for the serious impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the general population. Those with psychological distress accessed digital mental health services and were satisfied with the care they received. The results highlight the continued need for mental health support and digital health services, particularly for people living with chronic conditions, younger adults and people most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the short term and beyond.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36339853
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1028384
pmc: PMC9631931
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
1028384Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Ellis, Dammery, Wells, Ansell, Smith, Tran, Braithwaite and Zurynski.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Références
JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Sep 1;3(9):e2019686
pubmed: 32876685
Child Soc. 2021 Jan;35(1):62-74
pubmed: 33362362
Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. 2021 Apr-Jun;10:100708
pubmed: 33619459
BMC Public Health. 2021 Apr 8;21(1):685
pubmed: 33832478
Internet Interv. 2020 Sep;21:100327
pubmed: 32537424
Behav Res Methods. 2015 Sep;47(3):685-90
pubmed: 26170052
Internet Interv. 2020 Apr;20:100317
pubmed: 32289019
Med J Aust. 2020 Nov;213(10):458-464
pubmed: 33107063
Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021 Jan-Apr;21(1):100196
pubmed: 32904715
Psychol Med. 2021 Apr 20;:1-9
pubmed: 33875044
Front Psychiatry. 2020 Oct 06;11:579985
pubmed: 33132940
Indian J Psychiatry. 2020 Sep;62(Suppl 3):S373-S376
pubmed: 33227062
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 27;18(9):
pubmed: 33925743
Health Expect. 2021 Feb;24(1):95-110
pubmed: 33215857
JMIR Ment Health. 2021 Dec 6;8(12):e32948
pubmed: 34666306
World Psychiatry. 2020 Jun;19(2):129-130
pubmed: 32394569
Psychiatry Res. 2021 Feb;296:113660
pubmed: 33373808
Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Sep;7(9):813-824
pubmed: 32682460
J Occup Rehabil. 2021 Sep;31(3):455-462
pubmed: 33656699
Lancet Public Health. 2022 May;7(5):e427-e436
pubmed: 35461593
Int J Qual Health Care. 2021 Feb 20;33(1):
pubmed: 32991713
Int J Nurs Stud Adv. 2020 Nov;2:100008
pubmed: 33083791
Stress Health. 2022 Jul 2;:
pubmed: 35778965
J Telemed Telecare. 2022 May;28(4):301-308
pubmed: 32985380
Global Health. 2021 Oct 1;17(1):117
pubmed: 34598720
Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2010 Jun;19 Suppl 1:4-22
pubmed: 20527002
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2011 Apr;45(4):308-16
pubmed: 21332432
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Aug 31;17(17):
pubmed: 32877985
J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jun;68(6):1067-1074
pubmed: 33858763
J Med Internet Res. 2022 Apr 4;24(4):e33787
pubmed: 35377328
Telemed J E Health. 2020 Apr;26(4):377-379
pubmed: 32202977
Psychol Med. 2021 Jan;51(2):201-211
pubmed: 33436130
Intern Med J. 2021 Jul;51(7):1060-1067
pubmed: 33350562
Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Jun;51:102071
pubmed: 32334407
BMJ Open. 2014 May 28;4(5):e005095
pubmed: 24871540