Preliminary Exploration of Psychologists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Electronic Security and Implications for Use of Technology‐Assisted Supervision

Abstract

Objective: Technology is increasingly used in the provision of psychology services, and technology-assisted supervision may offer improved access, convenience, and cost efficiencies in supervision settings, as well as augmenting and extending traditional supervision tools. The successful implementation and uptake of technology in supervision and training may be impacted by psychologists' understanding of digital security mechanisms and their perception of risk associated with new technologies. Method: Twenty-five psychologists completed a survey exploring knowledge of e-security, perceptions of risk associated with different behaviours in both digital and more traditional working contexts, and the extent to which they engaged in these behaviours. Comfort and willingness to utilise new supervision technologies was also assessed. Results: Results reveal a perceived lack of understanding of electronic security mechanisms. Comparisons of perceived risk between physical and equivalent digitally managed information were rated as similar. Psychologists tend to engage in higher perceived risk behaviours less often, although there are some clear discrepancies. Greater knowledge of e-security was associated with less comfort in using new supervision technologies. Conclusions: User perceptions of risk may impact the uptake of potentially useful technologies that support supervision. Education in the implementation of appropriate digital security mechanisms is recommended, coupled with further research to understand barriers associated with greater knowledge of security risks.

Telesupervision in Psychotherapy: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review

“…Using the PRISMA method, three articles were selected [ 51 , 52 , 53 ] (see Figure 2 ). One of these three articles [ 52 ] included, as a reference, a review of telesupervision in diverse disciplines [ 54 ], from which three other articles corresponding to empirical studies of telesupervision in psychotherapy were extracted.…”

“…Perry’s study [ 57 ] evidenced that both supervisors and supervisees experienced telesupervision as an effective means of professional identity development, although in this study, there was only comparative reference to face-to-face supervision of other supervisees (whose direct experience was not included by design), both from the perspective of supervisors and supervisees. However, in the research by Blackman et al [ 51 ], an inverse association was found between the greater electronic safety awareness of participating psychotherapists and their comfort in sharing video or audio of consenting patients to be used as clinical work material in telesupervision.…”

“…This transition from novelty and unfamiliarity to unfolding in different remote environments may also underlie the preference noted by some study participants for face-to-face supervision [ 53 ], even though, likewise, some participants [ 52 ] would return to having telesupervisions. From this perspective, it is also possible to understand the novelty in the ethical safeguards that are being established since the implementation of this type of supervision, which could be interpreted as a precaution of the supervised [ 51 ] regarding the private material of patients that can be shared with supervisors already aware of the risks of electronic security.…”