Title : An inquiry into physicians mindsets: Attitude and perceptions of technology-enabled mental health care for supporting occupational mental health and well-being among doctors in India
Abstract:
Background: Globally, the mental healthcare delivery system is neglected and plagued by fundamental shortcomings and does not match the needs and demands of the community. Mental illness is projected to have a global economic impact of $6 trillion by 2030. The recent pandemic has brought into focus the long stressful work hours in healthcare and with the advent of technology-enabled mental health care, doctors qualify as an ideal study group to understand their acceptability, attitude and perceptions of digital mediums to support their own mental health and well-being.
Objectives: To study the attitude and perceptions of technology-enabled care for mental health and well-being among doctors in an Indian setting.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 20 doctors of Community Medicine linked to the Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. Study subjects were selected based on purposive divergent sampling to ensure richness in the data collection. All the study participants were subjected to in Depth interview using standard topic guide after written informed consent. All the interviews were audio recorded in local language and thereafter transcribed and translated in English for analysis in NVIVO. Based on the coding done, thematic content analysis was done with an exploratory perspective to understand the felt need of mental health and wellbeing among doctors and their attitude and perception towards technology in support.
Results: Following four main themes were derived from the codes generated; Attitude and Perceptions towards mental health and well-being, Attitude and Perceptions towards use of technology for mental health and wellbeing, Role of personal and professional life in mental health and wellbeing and Coping mechanisms adopted for mental health and wellbeing.
Conclusion: The importance of mental health and wellbeing was accepted by all the doctors and the stressful nature of the profession was cited as an important reason for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. There is a lack of policies and of support at professional workplaces to support mental health and wellbeing of doctors. Study participants accepted the potential of technology in improving mental health and wellbeing however the lack of personal touch in rendering care was reported. Overall, there is very limited use of technology for mental health and wellbeing by doctors.
Audience Take Away:
- In this qualitative study employing in-depth interviews, the audience will gain valuable insights into the attitudes and perceptions of doctors specialising in community medicine and public health in India.
- The findings illuminate the nuanced perspectives these healthcare professionals hold towards utilising technological interventions for their mental well-being. The apps with meditation, yoga and mental health services was found to be of great use to professionals in their busy lives.
- The audience, comprising policymakers, mental health practitioners, educators, and technology developers, can leverage these findings to enhance mental health strategies tailored to the specific needs of healthcare professionals in this sector.
- This research provides a practical roadmap for improving mental health support strategies, influencing policymaking, guiding educational curricula, and informing the development of technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of doctors in community medicine and public health in Delhi, India.
- This knowledge is crucial for crafting interventions that resonate with the unique challenges faced by these professionals in Delhi, ultimately contributing to a more effective and contextually relevant mental health support system.
