Snapshot of the supports of communication used by patients at a French psychiatric hospital: a digital or social division?

BACKGROUND: The role of information and communications technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in daily life and in the organization of medical care: are some people being left out?

AIMS: To evaluate access to and the uses of communication resources by psychiatric patients, focusing on the means of communication (e.g. mobile phones and computers), access and frequency of internet use.

METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed, over a period of 1 week, to inpatients or day hospitalised patients aged over 12 years in all care units.

RESULTS: Access to and the uses of modern communication resources were lower than in the general population. Among places and means of internet consultation, the personal computer was most often cited, but only by 34%, and the use of mobile phones is still not widespread. Finally, day hospitalised subjects, the elderly, or subjects being treated in the psychosis care sector use internet and technology the least.

CONCLUSIONS: Some differences exist between this population with mental illness and the general population on the use of new communication technologies. The possibility of integrating these techniques in individualized psychiatric care requires prior equipment and/or updates.