An evaluation of a network for professional development in child and adolescent mental health in rural and remote communities.

In 1998 a telemedicine network was established in South Australia and the Northern Territory to deliver educational material to professionals working in child and adolescent mental health in remote areas. The network involved a wide range of health professions, from psychiatrists to psychologists and social workers. The first 12 months of network activity were evaluated by quantitative and qualitative techniques. Four sources of data were used: an activity log, questionnaires, interviews and action research. A total of 36 telemedicine sessions were held, ranging in duration from 45 to 90 min (average 56 min) and involving a total of 45 different professionals, who participated an average of four times each (range 1-15). The most common types of session were case discussions (47%), followed by specialist seminars (36%) and administrative and introductory sessions (17%). The benefits of the network included: networking and peer support; improved efficiency and reduced travel costs; and improved efficiency of health services. The problems included: costs; lack of access to technical support; and the need for staff induction and training.