A qualitative study of patients’ and providers’ experiences with the use of videoconferences by older adults with depression

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of patients and providers regarding the use of videoconferences in older patients with depression. The qualitative study consisted of semi‐structured interviews with patients and providers and focus group interviews with providers. Themes were identified through using thematic analysis. Three main themes were as follows: 1. Technical Challenges experienced by patients and providers experiences; 2. Videoconferencing as clinical supportive technology; and 3. Therapeutic relationship across face‐to‐face and videoconferencing formats. Several subthemes describing patients’ and providers’ experiences were identified. Taken together, there was a similarity between expectations, opinions, and attitudes in relation to experiences vertically across all main themes, and horizontally between the main themes. An optimistic outlook influenced user expectations, opinions, and attitudes and acted to mitigate an negative sentiment about technical challenges. This increased the adoption of videoconferencing as a tool for clinical support and enabled the development of a therapeutic relationship using videoconferencing, especially for provider users. Both patients and providers agreed that videoconferences could not replace all face‐to‐face conversations and that videoconferences, in most cases, were best suited for shorter follow‐up consultations. Expectations, opinions, and attitudes, whether negative or positive, seemed to have significant impact on the experiences of patients and especially providers.

Patients' experiences of home-based psychotherapy via videoconference: A qualitative study

“…It may also be that in these sessions less intimacy is required. Preventive relapse and follow-up sessions via J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f videoconference seems, therefore, to be very acceptable as noted by patients in other studies (Christensen, Wilson, et al, 2020;Frank et al, 2017;Tarp & Nielsen, 2017).…”

“…The few qualitative studies of homebased psychotherapy via videoconference exploring the patients' views show that it is an acceptable and workable way to receive treatment. Some had the option of flexible scheduling that permitted patients to take less time off from work (Ashwick et al, 2019), and some benefitted from more frequent contact with their therapist, which enhanced the patients' engagement with their treatment (Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020). Others could choose for each session whether they wanted to use videoconferencing or attend in person, which eased access and enhanced the patients' sense of control (Tarp & Nielsen, 2017;Hensel et al, 2020).…”

“…Others could choose for each session whether they wanted to use videoconferencing or attend in person, which eased access and enhanced the patients' sense of control (Tarp & Nielsen, 2017;Hensel et al, 2020). Patients also felt more comfortable being in their own homes (Ashwick et al, 2019;Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020;Tarp & Nielsen, 2017). In general, patients found J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f that it was possible to create a good therapeutic relationship, but some found it more impersonal and that communication was less intense than in-person sessions (Ashwick et al, 2019;Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020;Frank et al, 2017;Hensel et al, 2020;Tarp & Nielsen, 2017).…”

“…Patients also felt more comfortable being in their own homes (Ashwick et al, 2019;Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020;Tarp & Nielsen, 2017). In general, patients found J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f that it was possible to create a good therapeutic relationship, but some found it more impersonal and that communication was less intense than in-person sessions (Ashwick et al, 2019;Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020;Frank et al, 2017;Hensel et al, 2020;Tarp & Nielsen, 2017). The studies included adult patients who were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (Ashwick et al, 2019), alcohol abuse disorder (Tarp & Nielsen, 2017), postpartum women with mood or anxiety symptoms (Hensel et al, 2020) and elderly patients diagnosed with depression (Christensen, Wilson et al, 2020;Frank et al, 2017).…”

Onlineund Telepsychotherapie

“…Dieser Befund deckt sich teilweise mit der Untersuchung zur Onlinetherapie bei älteren Klient*innen mit Depressionen. Auch dort wurde festgestellt, dass sowohl die Klient*innen als auch die Psychotherapeut*innen der Meinung sind, dass die Onlinepsychotherapie die Behandlung in der Praxis nicht ersetzen, aber ergänzen kann (Christensen et al, 2020). Das Problem der Rückkehr mancher Klient*innen in das physische Setting wurde von Leuckhardt et al (i. D.) für Angstpatienten beschrieben.…”