Acceptance and use of telepsychology from patients’ perspective: perceived advantages and barriers (Preprint)
BACKGROUND Telepsychology is currently incorporated in clinical practice, being offered in most psychotherapy centers. However, there seems to be a remarkable discrepancy between the offer, or interest in, and real-world uptake of e-mental health interventions among the population. A critical precondition is patients’ willingness to accept and use telepsychology, although this issue has thus far been overlooked in research. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine patients’ acceptance and use of telepsychology by adopting an extended UTAUT model that integrates perceived telepsychology advantages and barriers, usefulness perceptions, behavioral intention and telepsychology use. METHODS An online survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 514 subjects. Structural equation models were computed to test a mediation model. RESULTS Results supported the UTAUT model to explain patients’ acceptance and use of telepsychology. They showed a causal chain in which perceived telepsychology advantages and barriers were related to telepsychology use through the perceived usefulness of and intention to use telepsychology. CONCLUSIONS Telepsychology use may be explained according to the UTAUT model when coupled with patients’ perceptions of telepsychology advantages and barriers. Mental health stakeholders could consider these factors in order to increase the acceptance and use of telepsychology.