Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: May 16, 2022
Date Accepted: Oct 31, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Nov 2, 2022
Provider Perspectives on Telemental Health Usage After COVID-19: A Retrospective Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mental health care pivoted to telemedicine during COVID-19, and there is uncertainty around the sustainability of this rapid shift.
Objective:
This study examined how intentions to continue using telemedicine post-COVID are influenced by provider perceptions of usefulness, ease of use, professional social influence, and facilitating organizational conditions.
Methods:
We conducted a web-based, cross-sectional survey of 369 telemental health providers between February and March 2021. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to predict intentions to continue using telemedicine post-COVID.
Results:
Most providers began using telemedicine March 2020 or later (257/369, 69.6%) and saw ≥50% of their clients via telemedicine (299/369, 81.0%). Analyses revealed that intention to continue using telemedicine post-COVID was predicted by telemedicine caseload ( = .10; P = .005), perceived usefulness in general ( = .10; P = .008), ease-of-use ( = .08; P = .04), social influence ( = .68; P < .001) and facilitating conditions ( = .08; P = .047).
Conclusions:
Exploration into predictors of telemedicine usage beyond COVID-19 aids in surveillance of telemedicine usage, integration with future clinic workflows, and the shaping of public policy. It is important to consider telemedicine services not only as a response to a crisis, but as an effective and useful solution for everyday life. Our results suggest widespread, sustainable telemedicine adoption. Clinical Trial: N/A
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Copyright
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