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Cited by 14Telemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesIndigenous Health, Education, and Rights

Telepsychiatry in an Alaska Native Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Legha, Rupinder K., Moore, Laurie, Ling, Rebecca, Novins, Douglas, Shore, Jay·2020·Telemedicine and e-Health
DOI 10.1089/tmj.2019.0131
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Abstract

Introduction: Alaska Native communities experience high rates of alcohol and substance abuse and face challenges accessing quality, culturally appropriate treatment. Telepsychiatry could help bridge this gap, but no publications have examined its impacts for alcohol and substance abuse treatment directed at Alaska Native communities. This study explores one telepsychiatry clinic's impact on a residential substance abuse treatment serving the Alaska Native community in Anchorage, Alaska. Methods: Using a matched case – control design, 103 cases receiving telepsychiatry services between 2007 and 2012 were matched with 103 controls who did not. Outcome measures included length of stay, discharge plans, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions; clinical history, including previous suicide attempts, history of violence, and trauma history; social stressors such as current legal issues, unemployment, and homelessness; mental health, medical, and substance abuse diagnoses; and number of telepsychiatry appointments and nature of telepsychiatry services rendered. Results: Both groups exhibited high rates of mental and medical illness, socioeconomic challenges, and substance abuse. However, the telepsychiatry group demonstrated a significantly higher rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, history of violence, ongoing legal issues, and children in outside custody. It also remained engaged in treatment longer, had fewer discharges against medical advice, and was more likely to complete treatment. Discussion/Conclusions: Our study highlights this telepsychiatry clinic's real-world difference serving the complex substance abuse treatment needs of Alaska Native individuals. It also reinforces telepsychiatry's promise in serving other communities facing a high burden of addiction and mental illness yet facing barriers to high-quality, culturally competent services.

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  • Culturally tailored telepsychiatry in a residential treatment setting was effective in promoting treatment engagement and improving completion rates among Alaska Natives.

    “Another program that utilized culturally tailored telepsychiatry in a residential treatment setting was also effective in promoting treatment engagement and improving completion rates among Alaska Natives [109].”

    From Substance and Behavioral Addictions among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations (2022) · cites this paper as [109]

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Mail PD, , Heurtin-Roberts S, , Martin SE, , Howard J, eds. Alcohol use among American Indians and Alaska Natives: multiple perspectives on a complex problem. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002.
  2. Carroll M, , Cullen T, , Ferguson S, et al. Innovation in Indian healthcare: Using health information technology to achieve health equity for American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Perspect Health Inf Manag, 2008; 8:1d.
  3. Kidorf MS, , Peirce JM, , Brooner RK, et al. A randomized trial of web-based videoconferencing for substance abuse counseling. J Subst Abuse Treat, 2013; 46:36–42.
  4. Naquin V, , Trojan J, , O'Neil G, et al. The Therapeutic Village of Care: An Alaska Native alcohol treatment model. Ther Commun, 2006; 27:105–121.

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Authors
Legha, R. K., Moore, L., Ling, R., Novins, D., & Shore, J.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of Colorado Anschutz (US)
  • Cook Inlet Tribal Council (US)
Corresponding author
Legha, Rupinder K.
ORCID
Venue
Telemedicine and e-Health
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2020-07
Volume
26
Issue
7
Pages
905-911
ISSN
  • 1530-5627 (ISSN-L)
  • 1556-3669
DOI
10.1089/tmj.2019.0131
OpenAlex
W2992518629
Semantic Scholar
0505c72fa3810bdc2a3c4ad6c2632d18309788e9
Cited by
14
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2020: 2
FWCI
1.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Telemedicine Journal and e-Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
Keywords
telepsychiatry, Alaska Native communities, addiction treatment, residential treatment, alcoholism, culturally competent care, treatment engagement, length of hospital stay, post-traumatic stress disorder, history of violence, legal issues, child detention, discharge against medical advice, hospitalization, emergency department visits, psychiatric comorbidity
MeSH terms
Alaska Natives, Alaskan Natives, Child, Humans, Indians, North American, Mental Health, Case-Control Studies, Substance-Related Disorders

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