BackgroundThe increasing implementation of digital health into psychological practice is transforming mental health services. Limited clinical resources and the high demand for psychological services, alongside the restrictions imposed on services during the global COVID-19 pandemic, have been a catalyst for significant changes in the way psychologists work. Ensuring Psychologists have the skills and competence to use these tools in practice is essential to safe and ethical practice.AimThis study aimed to explore the digital competence of psychologists working in Aotearoa New Zealand and their use of digital tools in the practice.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Aotearoa New Zealand Registered Psychologists (n = 195) between July and November 2021.ResultsParticipants reported varying degrees of competence across the digital tasks presented, with participants most commonly reporting moderate to high competence for engaging in remote supervision via digital means (86%) and obtaining client's informed consent for digital work (82%). In contrast, tasks that participants most reported not being moderately or highly competent in included working with interpreters remotely and evaluating the effectiveness and security of smartphone apps. Motivations to use digital technologies included meeting client preferences and needs, necessity for continuity of care, and the benefits of increased accessibility and reach. In contrast, the barriers to using digital technologies included client characteristics or preference, clinical factors, clinician preferences and skills, and workplace or technical issues or concerns. The majority (91.1%) were potentially interested in further training in this area.ConclusionsThe current study offers insights into the digital competencies of a workforce that has required rapid incorporation of technologies into professional practice over recent years. This snapshot of the digital skills of psychologists demonstrates a large variation in digital competence. In the current context, developing digital competencies seems a fundamental requirement for psychologists to work in ways that appropriately and safely deliver client-centred care.

ObjectivesPatient expectations have the ability to influence health outcomes and have been shown to play an important role as part of the placebo effect to influence the response to medical treatments. Increasing positive expectations have been proposed as an intervention to improve treatment response, although evidence for this to date is limited. We investigated whether a brief 10‐min intervention directly targeting patient expectations prior to an iron infusion could enhance expectations and improve treatment response, in terms of patients' reported fatigue.DesignRandomized controlled trial.MethodsForty‐three patients diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia were randomized to a brief expectation intervention or active control group prior to an intravenous iron infusion. Chalder Fatigue Scale scores were assessed prior to randomization and at one and four weeks.ResultsThe expectation intervention significantly improved patients' expectations about the effectiveness of the intravenous iron infusion, t(21) = −3.95, p = .001. While there were no significant differences between groups in fatigue at the one‐week follow‐up, fatigue was significantly lower in the intervention group at the four‐week follow‐up compared to the control group, F(1, 25) = 6.25, p = .019. This was largely influenced by a significant reduction in physical, as opposed to mental fatigue scores.ConclusionsBoosting patients' positive expectations may be an effective way of enhancing patient response to treatment. In particular, targeting patient expectations with a brief intervention prior to medical treatments may result in a greater and longer therapeutic effect.

Background: Despite contemporary advances in understanding pathogenesis and effective management of gout, beliefs about the disease continue to be focused on gout as a self-inflicted illness. The illness label itself may contribute to inaccurate perceptions of the disease and its management. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, Māori (Indigenous New Zealanders) have high prevalence of severe gout. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the illness label 'gout' on perceptions of the disease and its management for Māori. Methods: Māori supermarket shoppers (n = 172) in rural and urban locations were recruited into a study examining the perceptions about arthritis. Participants were randomised 1:1 to complete a questionnaire examining the perceptions of the same illness description labelled as either 'gout' or 'urate crystal arthritis'. Differences between the two illness labels were tested using independent sample t-tests. Results: 'Gout' was most likely to be viewed as caused by diet, whereas 'urate crystal arthritis' was most likely to be viewed as caused by aging. 'Urate crystal arthritis' was seen as having a wider range of factors responsible for the illness, including stress or worry, hereditary factors and chance. 'Gout' was less likely to be viewed as having a chronic timeline, and was perceived as being better understood. Dietary management strategies were seen as more helpful for management of the gout-labelled illness.Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that for Māori, Indigenous New Zealanders who are disproportionately affected by gout, the illness label influences perceptions about gout and beliefs about management.