Symposia
Telehealth/m-Health
Kelsey McCoy, M.A.
Psychology Inter
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Angela Moreland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Samuel Peer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Shelby Wade, PhD
Program Coordinator
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Rochelle F. Hanson, Ph.D.
Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
The rise in mental health problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to improve access to evidence-based treatments (Harvey et al., 2015). This has necessitated changes in treatment delivery, such as the increased use of telehealth (Molfenter et al., 2021) and the ways mental health providers (MHPs) are trained. While recent research indicates that multi-component training strategies achieve the most effective outcomes (Hanson et al., 2019; Herschell et al., 2015), there is limited information on how pandemic-related changes (telehealth, remote work, increased stressors) impact MHPs and their abilities to participate in training or deliver evidence-based treatments.
This mixed-methods study examined the impact of COVID-19 on MHPs participation in a statewide initiative focused on implementation of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). This study included n = 269 MHPs who participated in one of five Learning Collaboratives (LC) between 2017-2021. Pre and post surveys assessed MHPs’ competence in delivering TF-CBT, responses to COVID-related challenges, and impact of these challenges on TF-CBT delivery and completion of training requirements. Qualitative interviews were conducted with n = 15 MHPs that participated in an LC during the pandemic to explore barriers and facilitators to completing requirements and delivering TF-CBT.
Quantitative data utilized Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed data. No significant differences between MHPs engaged in training pre- versus during the pandemic were found in perceived competence in TF-CBT delivery, number of identified TF-CBT cases, or percentage of weekly metrics completed. MHPs participating in LCs during the pandemic completed fewer cases (U=3895.50, p< .001) and fewer consultation calls (U=5470.00, p< .001) compared to prior to the pandemic. Qualitative data analyses included a three-step inductive approach, in which each participant’s interview responses were carefully examined to develop a comprehensive codebook to capture all possible themes emerging from the data. Results suggested that MHPs encountered several barriers to completion of training requirements and treatment delivery including technology challenges, feelings of isolation, and difficulty completing cases following the transition to telehealth. Implications for current and future training/implementation initiatives and treatment delivery in response to global health crises, along with directions for future research will be discussed.