Possibilities and Challenges of Delivering Health-Related Small Group Interventions Online: Scoping Review

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic required the transition of health-related face-to-face group interventions to an online setting. While it seems that group outcomes can be realized in an online setting, less is known about resulting potential challenges (and advantages) and how these can be overcome.

The aim of this article is to explore what challenges and advantages may arise when providing health-related small group interventions in an online setting and how to overcome these challenges.

Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant literature. Effect studies, meta-analyses, literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and research reports relating to synchronous, face-to-face, health-related small group interventions, online group interventions, and video teleconferencing group interventions were identified and screened. Findings relating to potential challenges and corresponding strategies are described. In addition, potential advantages of online group settings were explored. Relevant insights were gathered until saturation of results relating to the research questions was reached.

The literature indicated several aspects that require extra attention and preparation in the online group setting. These include the delivery of nonverbal communication and affect regulation, as well as the build-up of group cohesion and therapeutic alliance, which seem more challenging online. Yet there are strategies to overcome these challenges, such as metacommunication, collecting participant feedback, and providing guidance concerning technical accessibility. In addition, the online setting provides opportunities to reinforce group identity, such as by allowing independence and the ability to create homogeneous groups.

While online, health-related small group interventions offer a considerable number of possibilities and benefits compared to face-to-face groups, there are also potential drawbacks to consider, which, if anticipated, can be to a great extent overcome.