Online consultations in mental healthcare during the COVID-19 outbreak: An international survey study on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers
De Witte NA, Carlbring P, Etzelmueller A, Nordgreen T, Karekla M, Haddouk L, Belmont A, Øverland S, Abi-Habib R, Bernaerts S, Brugnera A, Compare A, Duque A, Ebert DD, Eimontas J, Kassianos AP, Salgado J, Schwerdtfeger A, Tohme P, Van Assche E, Van Daele T (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 25
Article Number: 100405
DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100405
Abstract
Introduction: While the general uptake of e-mental health interventions remained low over the past years, physical distancing and lockdown measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic created a need and demand for online consultations in only a matter of weeks. Objective: This study investigates the uptake of online consultations provided by mental health professionals during lockdown measures in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the participating countries, with a specific focus on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers regarding online consultations. Methods: An online survey on the use of online consultations was set up in March 2020. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) guided the deductive qualitative analysis of the results. Results: In total, 2082 mental health professionals from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden were included. The results showed a high uptake of online consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic but limited previous training on this topic undergone by mental health professionals. Most professionals reported positive experiences with online consultations, but concerns about the performance of online consultations in a mental health context (e.g., in terms of relational aspects) and practical considerations (e.g., relating to privacy and security of software) appear to be major barriers that hinder implementation. Conclusions: This study provides an overview of the mental health professionals' actual needs and concerns regarding the use of online consultations in order to highlight areas of possible intervention and allow the implementation of necessary governmental, educational, and instrumental support so that online consultations can become a feasible and stable option in mental healthcare.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
University Institute of Maia – ISMAI / Instituto Universitário da Maia
Portugal (PT)
Università degli Studi di Bergamo
Italy (IT)
St. Olavs University Hospital / St. Olavs Hospital Universitetssykehuset i Trondheim
Norway (NO)
Haukeland University Hospital / Haukeland universitetssykehus
Norway (NO)
University of Cyprus (UCY) / Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
Cyprus (CY)
HelloBetter GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH
Germany (DE)
University of Rouen / Université de Rouen
France (FR)
Valencian International University (VIU) / Universidad Internacional de Valencia
Spain (ES)
Thomas More University of Applied Sciences
Belgium (BE)
Stockholm University / Stockholms universitet
Sweden (SE)
Lebanese American University (LAU)
Lebanon (LB)
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Austria (AT)
Vilnius University / Vilniaus universitetas
Lithuania (LT)
Union Professionnelle des Psychologues Cliniciens Francophones & Germanophones (UPPCF)
Belgium (BE)
Portugal (PT)
Università degli Studi di Bergamo
Italy (IT)
St. Olavs University Hospital / St. Olavs Hospital Universitetssykehuset i Trondheim
Norway (NO)
Haukeland University Hospital / Haukeland universitetssykehus
Norway (NO)
University of Cyprus (UCY) / Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
Cyprus (CY)
HelloBetter GET.ON Institut für Online Gesundheitstrainings GmbH
Germany (DE)
University of Rouen / Université de Rouen
France (FR)
Valencian International University (VIU) / Universidad Internacional de Valencia
Spain (ES)
Thomas More University of Applied Sciences
Belgium (BE)
Stockholm University / Stockholms universitet
Sweden (SE)
Lebanese American University (LAU)
Lebanon (LB)
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Austria (AT)
Vilnius University / Vilniaus universitetas
Lithuania (LT)
Union Professionnelle des Psychologues Cliniciens Francophones & Germanophones (UPPCF)
Belgium (BE)
How to cite
APA:
De Witte, N.A., Carlbring, P., Etzelmueller, A., Nordgreen, T., Karekla, M., Haddouk, L.,... Van Daele, T. (2021). Online consultations in mental healthcare during the COVID-19 outbreak: An international survey study on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers. Internet Interventions, 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100405
MLA:
De Witte, Nele A.J., et al. "Online consultations in mental healthcare during the COVID-19 outbreak: An international survey study on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers." Internet Interventions 25 (2021).
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