Learning Outcomes of e-Learning in Psychotherapy Training and Comparison With Conventional Training Methods:...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Medical Education
• Digital Health

Background:

• Rising demand for mental health services strains traditional psychotherapy training.
• Current training methods are costly, time-consuming, and limit scalability.
• E-learning offers a potential solution to improve psychotherapy training accessibility, quality, and reach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on e-learning in psychotherapy training.
• To assess e-learning's usability, acceptability, and learning outcomes.
• To evaluate the equivalence of web-based versus conventional training methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines (2008-2022).
• Searched Ovid, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases.
• Included studies on e-learning for psychotherapy training assessing outcomes and feasibility; risk of bias evaluated; Kirkpatrick model used for learning outcomes; effect sizes calculated.

Main Results:

• 34 studies met inclusion criteria from 3380 publications.
• E-learning programs showed positive learning outcomes: trainee satisfaction, knowledge, and skill acquisition.
• Learning outcomes were equivalent to conventional training (effect size 0.01), despite heterogeneity in e-learning solutions.

Conclusions:

• E-learning shows potential to enhance psychotherapy training accessibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Blended learning settings with activating methods are recommended.
• Further research needed to address heterogeneity, establish standards, and assess patient outcomes.