Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study

While research on blended therapy (BT), i.e. the combination of face-to-face and digital treatment, has grown rapidly, integrating BT into routine practice remains limited, especially in inpatient settings. This study seeks to investigate the potential barriers healthcare providers and patients are...

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Main Authors: Nikita Gupta, Sophie Leuba, Erich Seifritz, Thomas Berger, Wolfram Kawohl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1417784/full
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author Nikita Gupta
Nikita Gupta
Sophie Leuba
Erich Seifritz
Thomas Berger
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
author_facet Nikita Gupta
Nikita Gupta
Sophie Leuba
Erich Seifritz
Thomas Berger
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
author_sort Nikita Gupta
collection DOAJ
description While research on blended therapy (BT), i.e. the combination of face-to-face and digital treatment, has grown rapidly, integrating BT into routine practice remains limited, especially in inpatient settings. This study seeks to investigate the potential barriers healthcare providers and patients are confronted with in implementing BT to inpatients. Here, a retrospective, explorative qualitative research design was employed to gain insights into the experiences of healthcare professionals and inpatients in a real-world clinical setting. Specifically, we utilized semi-structured interviews to explore three key aspects: time resources, organizational support, and integration. A total of 11 therapists and 6 patients were interviewed. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients. We found that therapists emphasized several barriers including overwhelming workloads with insufficient time allocated for the work with the digital tools, inadequate time adjustments, a lack of ongoing training, and the necessity for a well-defined concept and setting of how to implement blended therapy. Interestingly, fewer barriers were reported by patients, who viewed the e-mental health platform as a valuable addition to their standard therapy. They also judged guidance and integration by their therapists as satisfactory and appreciated the adaptability offered in managing their workload in a flexible setting.
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spelling doaj-art-dbb494aaa4e14064a95836902b304b072024-12-17T17:18:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-12-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.14177841417784Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative studyNikita Gupta0Nikita Gupta1Sophie Leuba2Erich Seifritz3Thomas Berger4Wolfram Kawohl5Wolfram Kawohl6Wolfram Kawohl7Clienia Schlössli AG, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Oetwil am See, SwitzerlandDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK), University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK), University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandClienia Schlössli AG, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Oetwil am See, SwitzerlandDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK), University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandMedical School, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, CyprusWhile research on blended therapy (BT), i.e. the combination of face-to-face and digital treatment, has grown rapidly, integrating BT into routine practice remains limited, especially in inpatient settings. This study seeks to investigate the potential barriers healthcare providers and patients are confronted with in implementing BT to inpatients. Here, a retrospective, explorative qualitative research design was employed to gain insights into the experiences of healthcare professionals and inpatients in a real-world clinical setting. Specifically, we utilized semi-structured interviews to explore three key aspects: time resources, organizational support, and integration. A total of 11 therapists and 6 patients were interviewed. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients. We found that therapists emphasized several barriers including overwhelming workloads with insufficient time allocated for the work with the digital tools, inadequate time adjustments, a lack of ongoing training, and the necessity for a well-defined concept and setting of how to implement blended therapy. Interestingly, fewer barriers were reported by patients, who viewed the e-mental health platform as a valuable addition to their standard therapy. They also judged guidance and integration by their therapists as satisfactory and appreciated the adaptability offered in managing their workload in a flexible setting.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1417784/fullblended therapyinpatientqualitative studyimplementationresourcessupport
spellingShingle Nikita Gupta
Nikita Gupta
Sophie Leuba
Erich Seifritz
Thomas Berger
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
Wolfram Kawohl
Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
Frontiers in Psychiatry
blended therapy
inpatient
qualitative study
implementation
resources
support
title Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
title_full Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
title_short Resources, support, and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients: a qualitative study
title_sort resources support and integration as potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of blended therapy in the routine care of inpatients a qualitative study
topic blended therapy
inpatient
qualitative study
implementation
resources
support
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1417784/full
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