Australian Health Professionals’ Attitudes Toward and Frequency of Use of Internet Supported Psychological Interventions

Abstract

This study sought to gain an understanding of Australian health professionals’ attitudes toward and frequency of use of Internet Supported Psychological Interventions (ISPIs) with clients, and identify the benefits of and challenges in using ISPIs with clients. Eighty-six Australian health professionals completed an online survey. The majority of the sample (69.8%) used ISPIs with clients, but this use was focused on referring clients to self-help and educational web-based interventions, rather than using ISPIs as an adjunct to face-to-face therapy (for example, through video-conferencing sessions). Health professionals with higher perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of ISPIs had more positive attitudes toward using ISPIs than health professionals with lower perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of ISPIs. In turn, attitudes toward ISPIs mediated the relationship between perceptions of usefulness and frequency of use of ISPIs. Little experience in using ISPIs, limited knowledge of ISPIs, as well as client barriers to accessing ISPIs were highlighted as challenges in using ISPIs with clients. Benefits of ISPIs highlighted by health professionals included their being a useful adjunct to face-to-face sessions, encouraging clients to develop self-management skills, and reaching clients who might not otherwise engage in therapy. Health professional training in the use of ISPIs with clients could provide experience in and knowledge of the benefits of using ISPIs. This training may facilitate health professionals’ face-to-face work with clients while also help to promote tele-mental health services to clients who might otherwise have difficulty accessing face-to-face services.

Keywords:

• attitudes
• technology acceptance
• health professionals
• internet interventions
• e-health
• technology uptake