Exploring Video Consultations Across the Public and Private Sectors in Norway: Semistructured Interview Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Mental Healthcare
• Teletherapy

Background:

• Video consultations offer expanded access to mental health services.
• Adoption of teletherapy varies, with no professional consensus on its utility.
• Understanding professional perspectives is crucial for effective digital service design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore mental health professionals' experiences and attitudes towards video consultations.
• To investigate these perspectives across public and private healthcare sectors in Norway.
• To inform the development of future digitalized mental health services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semistructured interviews with leaders and clinicians.
• Participants recruited from public hospitals and private clinics in Norway.
• Data analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive, experiential approach.

Main Results:

• Attitudes toward video consultations were not sector-specific but linked to broader cultural and societal assumptions.
• Six key themes emerged regarding professionals' perspectives on digital therapy.
• Factors influencing adoption include professional culture, societal values, and prior experiences.

Conclusions:

• Addressing societal and cultural factors is key to increasing teletherapy adoption.
• Recommendations include integrating digital therapy into education and fostering personal experience.
• Enhancing knowledge sharing and innovating service models and technology are vital.