Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented uptake of telepsychology services; however, clinicians have mixed attitudes toward virtual technologies.
Objective
This study (1) explored clinicians’ experiences of and intentions to use video, telephone, and in-person services, and (2) tested the utility of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to predict clinicians’ intentions to offer telepsychology after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Clinician satisfaction and therapeutic alliance were compared across in-person, video, and telephone services, while technology attitudes and intention to use after the pandemic were compared across video and telephone services among 118 addiction and mental health clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results
Clinicians reported more positive experiences with in-person services than both virtual technologies; further, clinicians reported greater positive experiences, attitudes, and intentions to use video services than telephone services across measures. Based on the UTAUT, performance expectancy positively predicted concurrent intentions to use video services (β=0.46; P<.001) and telephone services (β=0.35; P<.001) after the pandemic. Social influence (β=0.24; P=.004) and facilitating conditions (β=0.19; P=.03) additionally predicted the intention to use telephone services.
Conclusions
Clinicians rated in-person services more positively than virtual technologies, with video services perceived more positively than telephone services. Performance expectancy was the primary facilitator of the uptake of both virtual modalities.
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted an unprecedented uptake of telepsychology services; however, clinicians are mixed in their attitudes toward virtual technologies.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored clinician attitudes towards video, telephone, and in-person services and tested the utility of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to predict clinician intention to offer telepsychology post-pandemic.
METHODS
Clinician satisfaction and therapeutic alliance were compared across in-person, video, and telephone while ease of communication, technology attitudes, and intention to use post-pandemic were compared across video and telephone services in 118 addiction and mental health clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
RESULTS
Clinicians reported more positive attitudes toward in-person services than both virtual technologies, and more positive attitudes towards video- than telephone-based services across measures (P < .001). Based on the UTAUT, performance expectancy positively predicted concurrent intention to use video (β = 0.46, P < .001) and telephone (β = 0.35, P < .001) services in future practice. Social influence (β = 0.24, P = .004) and facilitating conditions (β = 0.19, P = .028) additionally predicted intention to use telephone.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians have more positive attitudes towards in-person than virtual technologies, with video perceived more positively than telephone; performance expectancy is a primary facilitator to uptake of both virtual modalities. Recommendations and limitations are discussed.
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