Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey
Abstract Background Telehealth usage has been promoted in all settings but has been identified as a panacea to issues of access and equity in the rural context. However, uptake and widespread integration of telehealth across all parts of the health system has been slow, with a myriad of barriers doc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09083-6 |
| _version_ | 1797865196997312512 |
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| author | David Nelson Maxime Inghels Amanda Kenny Steve Skinner Tracy McCranor Stephen Wyatt Jaspreet Phull Agnes Nanyonjo Ojali Yusuff Mark Gussy |
| author_facet | David Nelson Maxime Inghels Amanda Kenny Steve Skinner Tracy McCranor Stephen Wyatt Jaspreet Phull Agnes Nanyonjo Ojali Yusuff Mark Gussy |
| author_sort | David Nelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Telehealth usage has been promoted in all settings but has been identified as a panacea to issues of access and equity in the rural context. However, uptake and widespread integration of telehealth across all parts of the health system has been slow, with a myriad of barriers documented, including in rural settings. The crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw barriers rapidly overturned with the unprecedented and exponential rise in telehealth usage. The uniqueness of the crisis forced telehealth adoption, but as the urgency stabilises, pandemic learnings must be captured, utilised, and built upon in a post-pandemic world. The aim of this study was to document staff experiences and perceptions of delivering rural psychological therapies via telehealth during the pandemic and to capture learnings for future rural telehealth delivery. Methods An online cross-sectional survey that explored mental health professional’s experiences, use, and perceptions of telehealth before and after pandemic-enforced changes to service delivery. Results Sixty-two respondents completed the questionnaire (response rate 68%). Both the delivery of telehealth via telephone and online video conferencing significantly increased during the pandemic (66% vs 98%, p < .001 for telephone and 10% vs 89%, p < 0.001 for online video). Respondents indicated that client’s access to services and attendance had improved with telehealth use but their attention and focus during sessions and non-verbal communication had been negatively affected. The challenges for older adults, people with learning and sensory disabilities, and residents in remote areas with poorer mobile/internet connectivity were identified. Despite these challenges, none of the respondents indicated a preference to return to fully face-to-face service delivery with most (86%) preferring to deliver psychological therapies fully or mostly via telehealth. Conclusions This study addresses three major gaps in knowledge: the experience of delivering local telehealth solutions to address rural mental health needs, the provision of strong rural-specific telehealth recommendations, and the dearth of rural research emanating from the United Kingdom. As the world settles into a living with COVID-19 era, the uniqueness of the rural telehealth context may be forgotten as urban myopia continues to dominate telehealth policy and uptake. It is critical that rural resourcing and digital connectivity are addressed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:04:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76a32ea7893f42f5a81a53d46a5662fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:04:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-76a32ea7893f42f5a81a53d46a5662fa2023-03-22T10:48:03ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-02-0123111010.1186/s12913-023-09083-6Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional surveyDavid Nelson0Maxime Inghels1Amanda Kenny2Steve Skinner3Tracy McCranor4Stephen Wyatt5Jaspreet Phull6Agnes Nanyonjo7Ojali Yusuff8Mark Gussy9Lincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnLincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnLincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation TrustLincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnLincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnLincoln International Institute for Rural Health (LIIRH), University of LincolnAbstract Background Telehealth usage has been promoted in all settings but has been identified as a panacea to issues of access and equity in the rural context. However, uptake and widespread integration of telehealth across all parts of the health system has been slow, with a myriad of barriers documented, including in rural settings. The crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw barriers rapidly overturned with the unprecedented and exponential rise in telehealth usage. The uniqueness of the crisis forced telehealth adoption, but as the urgency stabilises, pandemic learnings must be captured, utilised, and built upon in a post-pandemic world. The aim of this study was to document staff experiences and perceptions of delivering rural psychological therapies via telehealth during the pandemic and to capture learnings for future rural telehealth delivery. Methods An online cross-sectional survey that explored mental health professional’s experiences, use, and perceptions of telehealth before and after pandemic-enforced changes to service delivery. Results Sixty-two respondents completed the questionnaire (response rate 68%). Both the delivery of telehealth via telephone and online video conferencing significantly increased during the pandemic (66% vs 98%, p < .001 for telephone and 10% vs 89%, p < 0.001 for online video). Respondents indicated that client’s access to services and attendance had improved with telehealth use but their attention and focus during sessions and non-verbal communication had been negatively affected. The challenges for older adults, people with learning and sensory disabilities, and residents in remote areas with poorer mobile/internet connectivity were identified. Despite these challenges, none of the respondents indicated a preference to return to fully face-to-face service delivery with most (86%) preferring to deliver psychological therapies fully or mostly via telehealth. Conclusions This study addresses three major gaps in knowledge: the experience of delivering local telehealth solutions to address rural mental health needs, the provision of strong rural-specific telehealth recommendations, and the dearth of rural research emanating from the United Kingdom. As the world settles into a living with COVID-19 era, the uniqueness of the rural telehealth context may be forgotten as urban myopia continues to dominate telehealth policy and uptake. It is critical that rural resourcing and digital connectivity are addressed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09083-6TelehealthTelemedicinePsychological therapiesCOVID-19 pandemicRural healthIAPT |
| spellingShingle | David Nelson Maxime Inghels Amanda Kenny Steve Skinner Tracy McCranor Stephen Wyatt Jaspreet Phull Agnes Nanyonjo Ojali Yusuff Mark Gussy Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey BMC Health Services Research Telehealth Telemedicine Psychological therapies COVID-19 pandemic Rural health IAPT |
| title | Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey |
| title_full | Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey |
| title_short | Mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting: a cross sectional survey |
| title_sort | mental health professionals and telehealth in a rural setting a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Telehealth Telemedicine Psychological therapies COVID-19 pandemic Rural health IAPT |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09083-6 |
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