Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38072482›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2023

Employing telepsychiatry services to assess the prevalence and identify mental health disorders using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in resource-constrained regions of Dadar Mansehra, Pakistan: an observational cross-sectional study.

Iffat Zafar Aga, Sara Saeed Khurram, Mahek Karim, Muhammad Muzzamil, Shahkamal Hashmi, Kashif Shafique

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Iffat Zafar AgaPublic Health & Digital Health, Sehat Kahani C/O Community Innovation Hub, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan iffatzaga@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0002-3621-6922
Sara Saeed KhurramPublic Health & Digital Health, Sehat Kahani C/O Community Innovation Hub, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Mahek KarimPublic Health & Digital Health, Sehat Kahani C/O Community Innovation Hub, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.ORCID 0009-0003-8300-9210
Muhammad MuzzamilPublic Health & Digital Health, Sehat Kahani C/O Community Innovation Hub, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0001-9871-5837
Shahkamal HashmiPublic Health, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Kashif ShafiquePublic Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Aga Khan University · PKDow University of Health Sciences · PKHealth Services Academy · PKUniversity of Edinburgh · GBZiauddin University · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aims to measure the prevalence of mental health disorders in low-resource settings through telepsychiatry and evaluate data from Pakistan's Sehat Kahani nurse-assisted online clinics serving low-income communities. This will help to understand the magnitude and nature of the demand for contextual therapies to promote mental health. The paper will discuss the challenges faced in these settings, such as limited access to mental health facilities, stigma and opportunities telemedicine brings.

designAn observational cross-sectional study of telepsychiatry consultations using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 to screen for depression and anxiety was conducted between October and December 2022.

settingThis research was conducted at Dadar Mansehra e-health clinics of Sehat Kahani with telepsychiatry services in Pakistan.

participantsThe study included 2660 participants who visited Sehat Kahani e-health clinics between October and December 2022 and voluntarily completed the questionnaire for data collection.

resultsThe study was comprised of 2660 participants with a mean age of 34.3 years. The study findings show that the majority of participants were females (98.4%), 16.9% of participants had moderate depression, and 20.8% had severe depression. Furthermore, the participants who were widowed/divorced were more likely to have depression than those who were single (OR=3.3, 95% CI (2.0 to 5.2)).

conclusionsBased on the findings, most study participants were female, and their mental health was negatively impacted. Women in Pakistan are disproportionately affected by the rising rates of depression and anxiety, and telepsychiatry therapies effectively respond to this growing need. Potentially, it is a game-changer for dealing with mental health problems. Telepsychiatry can help policymakers and mental health professionals to develop effective low-income mental health initiatives.

Indexed as

PsychiatryTelemedicineAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthPakistanPatient Health QuestionnairePrevalencehealth services accessibilitymental healthtelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID38072482
PMCPMC10729168
OpenAlexW4389521892

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.