Clinicians’ Attitudes Toward Telepsychology in Addiction and Mental Health Services, and Prediction of Postpandemic Telepsychology Uptake: Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented uptake of telepsychology services; however, clinicians are mixed in their attitudes toward virtual technologies. Objective: This study explored 1) clinician experiences of and intention to use video, telephone, and in-person services, and 2) tested the utility of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to predict clinician intention to offer telepsychology post-pandemic. Methods: Clinician satisfaction and therapeutic alliance were compared across in-person, video, and telephone while technology attitudes, and intention to use post-pandemic were compared across video and telephone services in 118 addiction and mental health clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Clinicians reported more positive experiences with in-person services than both virtual technologies; further, clinicians reported greater positive experiences, attitudes, and intentions to use video- than telephone-based services across measures. Based on the UTAUT, performance expectancy positively predicted concurrent intention to use video (β = 0.46, P < .001) and telephone (β = 0.35, P < .001) post-pandemic. Social influence (β = 0.24, P = .004) and facilitating conditions (β = 0.19, P = .028) additionally predicted intention to use telephone. Conclusions: Clinicians rate in-person services more positively than virtual technologies, with video perceived more positively than telephone; performance expectancy is a primary facilitator to uptake of both virtual modalities. Recommendations and limitations are discussed.