Measuring therapists' attitudes toward integration of technology in psychotherapy and predicting their use of technology

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to develop a measure of psychotherapists' attitudes toward integrating technology in psychotherapy-The Therapists' Attitudes toward using Modern Technologies in Psychotherapy and Counselling Scale (MTPS), to analyze its latent structure and test its reliability and validity. Method: Items were developed based on interviews with psychotherapists, followed by two online surveys with psychotherapists (N1 = 219; N2 = 369) in five countries in South-eastern Europe. Results: The MTPS has a 4-factor structure: perceived potential of modern technologies (MTs) to augment therapeutic improvement, perceived psychoeducational value of MTs, perceived risks associated with using MTs, and perceived relevance of MTs. Specific dimensions of the MTPS predicted psychotherapists' behaviors and intentions regarding technology (Rc = 0.15-0.46). The reliability of the MTPS subscales was satisfactory.Conclusion: MTPS appears to be a useful instrument. Exploring psychotherapists' attitudes assists in predicting obstacles to the implementation of technology in psychotherapy and planning adequate intervention to overcome it. K E Y W O R D S blended care, computerized treatment, scale development, technology in psychotherapy, therapists' attitudes

Psychological Support and Psychotherapy during the COVID-19 Outbreak: First Response of Practitioners

“…The percentage of gender distribution in the survey (90.3% females) is not surprising, as it corresponds with the data obtained from similar studies from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany (77.8%; [24]), Croatia (88.6% females), and other countries of South-Eastern Europe (89.2% females) in Balkan region [21]. This may reflect some tendency in gender asymmetry in psychological occupations or readiness to participate in research in this region.…”

“…The obtained data on survey respondents corresponds to other findings on practitioners of psychological assistance and psychotherapy in Eastern Europe. The number of participants who normally used online format (57.9%) is also similar to the data from the study of psychotherapists from several Eastern-European countries in the Balkan region (i.e., Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia) that was recently published by Bagarić B. and Jokić-Begić N. [21]. About 60-64% of the practitioners from the mentioned region responded they worked online in non-pandemic times.…”

Leaders in times of transition: Virtual self-efficacy, participant behaviors, and leader perceptions of adaptive interpersonal group processes.

“…It appears that to cultivate adaptive interpersonal group processes in virtual settings, especially in times of transition, leaders’ positive perceptions of their ability to achieve desired goals may be a possible resource (Bagarić & Jokić-Begić, 2020; Békés et al, 2021). Leaders’ self-efficacy can be cultivated in several ways.…”

Working Online During the Contemporary COVID‐19 Pandemic1

“…It would appear this issue could be analyst and patient specific in terms of personal preferences, attitudes, and familiarity with technology. Indeed, Bagaric & Jokic‐Begic (2020) quote research indicating that some psychotherapists do not see teleanalysis suiting every patient, and it may not suit some analysts as well. For example, USA2 minimizes distraction by only using the telephone because “I am a visual person” and Italy1 said, “Skype analysis clearly depends on Psychological Types!”…”