Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTelehealth has become a valuable tool for providing health services remotely through digital communication technologies. Therefore, assessing patients' satisfaction and the utility of this tool is crucial for future implementation and development.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study...

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Main Authors: Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi, Fatema Al-Sabahi, Mohammed Al-Alawi, Munira Al Rubkhi, Marwa Al Abdali, Muna Al Salmi, Tharaya Al-Hashemi, Rahma Al Nuumani, Fatma Al Balushi, Rashid Al Zaidi, Samir Al-Adawi, Sachin Jose, Hassan Mirza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Digital Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1563180/full
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author Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Fatema Al-Sabahi
Mohammed Al-Alawi
Munira Al Rubkhi
Marwa Al Abdali
Muna Al Salmi
Tharaya Al-Hashemi
Rahma Al Nuumani
Fatma Al Balushi
Rashid Al Zaidi
Samir Al-Adawi
Sachin Jose
Hassan Mirza
author_facet Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Fatema Al-Sabahi
Mohammed Al-Alawi
Munira Al Rubkhi
Marwa Al Abdali
Muna Al Salmi
Tharaya Al-Hashemi
Rahma Al Nuumani
Fatma Al Balushi
Rashid Al Zaidi
Samir Al-Adawi
Sachin Jose
Hassan Mirza
author_sort Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundTelehealth has become a valuable tool for providing health services remotely through digital communication technologies. Therefore, assessing patients' satisfaction and the utility of this tool is crucial for future implementation and development.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted at Al Masarra Hospital between January 1st, 2023, and June 30th, 2023, with adults recruited from the general adult psychiatry clinic and received at least 3 previous telephone-based psychiatry consultations. Data were then analyzed using the Chi-square test and a multivariate binary logistic regression.ResultsAmong 222 patients (a mean age = 37.72 years), the majority (77.5%) were found to have an overall satisfaction with the service. Most participants agreed that telehealth improves access to healthcare services (65.2%), saves time traveling (78.4%), and meets their healthcare needs (75.7%). A total of 22.5% of participants reported dissatisfaction with the service. Significant predictors of satisfaction included sex, employment status, and monthly income. Females were more likely to be satisfied with telephone-based psychiatric consultations (Adjusted OR = 2.525, p = 0.030). Homemakers or unemployed participants were more likely to report satisfaction (Adjusted OR = 7.838, p = 0.009), as were those earning between 150 and 499 OMR (Adjusted OR = 10.967, p = 0.001) and ≥500 OMR (Adjusted OR = 46.312, p < 0.001).ConclusionTelephone-based psychiatry consultations demonstrated high usability, satisfaction, and accessibility among study participants. Sex, employment status, and monthly income significantly influenced satisfaction levels. These findings highlight the potential of telehealth to bridge gaps in mental healthcare delivery, particularly for underserved populations in Oman. It is important to consider, however, the issues that might arise during these consultations that lead to dissatisfaction in some patients, and find suitable solutions for both the patients and the healthcare providers.
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spelling doaj-art-98080da8bcd24f0a919b5448c0aa898b2025-08-20T03:17:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-06-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.15631801563180Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional studyTamadhir Al-Mahrouqi0Fatema Al-Sabahi1Mohammed Al-Alawi2Munira Al Rubkhi3Marwa Al Abdali4Muna Al Salmi5Tharaya Al-Hashemi6Rahma Al Nuumani7Fatma Al Balushi8Rashid Al Zaidi9Samir Al-Adawi10Sachin Jose11Hassan Mirza12Department of Behavioral Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Al Masarra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Muscat, OmanCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanResearch Department, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, OmanDepartment of Behavioral Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanBackgroundTelehealth has become a valuable tool for providing health services remotely through digital communication technologies. Therefore, assessing patients' satisfaction and the utility of this tool is crucial for future implementation and development.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted at Al Masarra Hospital between January 1st, 2023, and June 30th, 2023, with adults recruited from the general adult psychiatry clinic and received at least 3 previous telephone-based psychiatry consultations. Data were then analyzed using the Chi-square test and a multivariate binary logistic regression.ResultsAmong 222 patients (a mean age = 37.72 years), the majority (77.5%) were found to have an overall satisfaction with the service. Most participants agreed that telehealth improves access to healthcare services (65.2%), saves time traveling (78.4%), and meets their healthcare needs (75.7%). A total of 22.5% of participants reported dissatisfaction with the service. Significant predictors of satisfaction included sex, employment status, and monthly income. Females were more likely to be satisfied with telephone-based psychiatric consultations (Adjusted OR = 2.525, p = 0.030). Homemakers or unemployed participants were more likely to report satisfaction (Adjusted OR = 7.838, p = 0.009), as were those earning between 150 and 499 OMR (Adjusted OR = 10.967, p = 0.001) and ≥500 OMR (Adjusted OR = 46.312, p < 0.001).ConclusionTelephone-based psychiatry consultations demonstrated high usability, satisfaction, and accessibility among study participants. Sex, employment status, and monthly income significantly influenced satisfaction levels. These findings highlight the potential of telehealth to bridge gaps in mental healthcare delivery, particularly for underserved populations in Oman. It is important to consider, however, the issues that might arise during these consultations that lead to dissatisfaction in some patients, and find suitable solutions for both the patients and the healthcare providers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1563180/fullpatient satisfactionusabilityhealth care accessibilitytelehealthtelepsychiatrypsychiatric consultation
spellingShingle Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi
Fatema Al-Sabahi
Mohammed Al-Alawi
Munira Al Rubkhi
Marwa Al Abdali
Muna Al Salmi
Tharaya Al-Hashemi
Rahma Al Nuumani
Fatma Al Balushi
Rashid Al Zaidi
Samir Al-Adawi
Sachin Jose
Hassan Mirza
Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Digital Health
patient satisfaction
usability
health care accessibility
telehealth
telepsychiatry
psychiatric consultation
title Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
title_full Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
title_short Assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone-based psychiatry consultations in Oman: a cross-sectional study
title_sort assessing usability and satisfaction of telephone based psychiatry consultations in oman a cross sectional study
topic patient satisfaction
usability
health care accessibility
telehealth
telepsychiatry
psychiatric consultation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1563180/full
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