University of Twente Student Theses
Drivers and Barriers Affecting the Acceptance and Adoption of EMH by Mental Health Professionals during and after COVID-19: a Scoping Review
Wullink, C. (2025) Drivers and Barriers Affecting the Acceptance and Adoption of EMH by Mental Health Professionals during and after COVID-19: a Scoping Review.
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| Abstract: | Background: The acceptance and adoption of e-mental health (EMH) by mental health professionals is increasing due to awareness of its benefits and accessibility to mental health care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face care was not possible due to the restrictions, which also increased the use of EMH tools. Objective: We aim to conduct a scoping review to identify the research gap regarding the drivers and barriers to the acceptance and adoption of EMH among mental health professionals, focusing on literature from 2020-2024, to also examine the requirements of change to improve the adoption of EMH. Methods: Three databases were searched between 2020-2024 for research articles meeting the predefined inclusion criteria containing drivers and barriers of acceptance and adoption of e-mental health interventions among mental health professionals. Results: The findings suggested that the most common drivers experienced by mental health professionals were flexibility, general work experience, EMH experience by psychologists, and self-help enhancement. The most common barriers found in the studies were technical challenges, fatigue because of using online tools, and professional challenges. The results also found the need for better training, tools, and implementation guidelines to support the adoption of EMH. Conclusion: Current drivers and barriers affecting mental health professionals’ acceptance and adoption of EMH have been identified, such as the relatively new barrier fatigue that was brought to light after COVID-19. The findings imply that while the COVID-19 pandemic may have temporarily increased the necessity for EMH use, it did not lead to a fundamental shift in psychologists' perspectives or intrinsic motivations for using EMH. Research on the long- term effects of fatigue due to EMH, personal traits affecting EMH acceptance, and strategies to bridge the gap in experience with using EMH can help with being able to utilize EMH more effectively and more frequently by mental health professionals. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/105987 |
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