An evaluation of an Australian videoconferencing project for child and adolescent telepsychiatry

A user satisfaction survey of videoconferencing services for child and adol escent mental health was carried out over a two-year period in Victoria, Au stralia. The aims of the survey were to evaluate key utilization areas, eff ect on professional practice, and advantages and disadvantages of the video conferencing service. Eighty questionnaires were sent out and 58 (73%) were returned. Consultations were reported as the most frequent use of videocon ferencing equipment (62%), followed by clinical use (59%), supervision (36% ), teaching (19%) and administration (14%). Fifty-seven per cent of respond ents reported that videoconferencing had affected professional practice. Ad vantages of the services included cost savings (52%) while disadvantages in cluded technological problems (40%). The findings show the benefits of vide oconferencing for improving the delivery of mental health care in rural Aus tralia.