A systematic review of providers' attitudes toward telemental health via videoconferencing

• Published in: Clinical psychology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 27; no. 2
• Main Authors: Connolly, Samantha L., Miller, Christopher J., Lindsay, Jan A., Bauer, Mark S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Attitudes; clinical video teleconferencing; Health Care Services; Human; implementation; Mental Health; providers; Systematic review; Technology; Teleconferencing; telehealth; Telemedicine; telemental health; Telepsychiatry; Videoconferencing; telemental health; telepsychiatry; attitudes; clinical video teleconferencing; telehealth; implementation; technology; videoconferencing; providers
• ISSN: 0969-5893; 1468-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/cpsp.12311

Telemental health conducted via videoconferencing (TMH-V) has the potential to improve access to care, and providers' attitudes toward this innovation play a crucial role in its uptake. This systematic review examined providers' attitudes toward TMH-V through the lens of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Findings suggest that providers have positive overall attitudes toward TMH-V despite describing multiple drawbacks. Therefore, the relative advantages of TMH-V, such as its ability to increase access to care, may outweigh its disadvantages, including technological problems, increased hassle, and perceptions of impersonality. Providers' attitudes may also be related to their degree of prior TMH-V experience, and acceptance may increase with use. Limitations and implications of findings for implementation efforts are discussed. Public Health Significance Mental health providers can conduct appointments remotely via videoconferencing, a form of telemental health (TMH-V) which can increase access to care for patients who live far from specialty providers or have difficulty leaving their homes. It is important to understand providers' attitudes toward this technology, as they play a crucial role in whether this service will be widely adopted by health-care systems and will therefore be offered to patients. The current review found that providers feel positive toward TMH-V despite reporting multiple drawbacks; this suggests that the relative advantages of TMH-V, such as its ability to increase access to care, may outweigh its disadvantages, including technological problems, increased hassle, and perceptions of feeling impersonal.