Efficacy of Remote as Compared to In-Person School Psychological Services: A Rapid Systematic Evidence Review

ABSTRACT

As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote school psychological services have increased notably in many countries. With the aim of supporting evidence-based practices, we conducted a rapid systematic evidence review on the efficacy of remote as compared to in-person school psychological services. From a total of 3,873 references identified through our search, only three (< 1%) met eligibility criteria for this review. One of these studies showed serious risk of bias according to the ROBINS-I rating scale and was therefore excluded. Overall, the limited evidence that we identified indicates that the impact of remote school psychological services on consumer satisfaction and evaluated mental health outcomes of service users is equivalent or slightly higher to in-person school psychological services. However, this information needs to be interpreted with caution due to the scarcity of available data, as well as methodological limitations.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Covidence for granting us free access to their web-based software to facilitate the review process of this project based on the connection of our work with the Covid-19 crisis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexa von Hagen

Alexa von Hagen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Competence Centre School Psychology Hesse, at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.

Bettina Müller

Bettina Müller is postdoctoral researcher at the Competence Centre School Psychology Hesse, at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany, as well as a school psychologist at the regional educational office Schulamt Kassel.

Anna Sedlak

Anna Sedlak is a school psychologist at the Competence Centre School Psychology Hesse, at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.

Gerhard Bachmann

Gerhard Bachmann is postdoctoral researcher and school psychologist at the Competence Centre School Psychology Hesse, at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.

Jana Herbert

Jana Herbert is an educational psychologist that worked on this project as a research assistant during her Master program studies at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.

Gerhard Büttner

Gerhard Büttner is a tenured professor of educational psychology and the scientific head of the Competence Centre School Psychology Hesse at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.