Barriers and Facilitators to Psychologists’ Telepsychology Uptake during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jack D. Watson, Bradford S. Pierce, Carmen M. Tyler, Emily K. Donovan, Kritzia Merced, Margaret Mallon, Aaron Autler and Paul B. Perrin ()
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Jack D. Watson: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Bradford S. Pierce: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Carmen M. Tyler: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Emily K. Donovan: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Kritzia Merced: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Margaret Mallon: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Aaron Autler: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Paul B. Perrin: Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the delivery of psychological services as many psychologists adopted telepsychology for the first time or dramatically increased their use of it. The current study examined qualitative and quantitative data provided by 2619 practicing psychologists to identify variables facilitating and impeding the adoption of telepsychology in the U.S. at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The top five reported barriers were: inadequate access to technology, diminished therapeutic alliance, technological issues, diminished quality of delivered care or effectiveness, and privacy concerns. The top five reported facilitators were: increased safety, better access to patient care, patient demand, efficient use of time, and adequate technology for telepsychology use. Psychologists’ demographic and practice characteristics robustly predicted their endorsement of telepsychology barriers and facilitators. These findings provide important context into the implementation of telepsychology at the beginning of the pandemic and may serve future implementation strategies in clinics and healthcare organizations attempting to increase telepsychology utilization.

Keywords: telepsychology; telehealth; COVID-19; coronavirus; implementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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