Videoconferencing Therapy Satisfaction in Trauma-Exposed Patients

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic mental health care offered less face-to-face therapy (FT) and videoconferencing therapy (VCT) usage increased. Aim of this study is to examine the patients’ VCT satisfaction. Therefore, the study examines the relationship between perceived symptom change, psychological symptoms severity, demographic variables (gender and age), therapeutic alliance satisfaction, and technical quality satisfaction and VCT satisfaction. Methods: For main outcomes, 493 patients were invited to complete the assessment, which consisted of the Brief Symptom Inventory and additional COVID-19 questions about their symptoms and therapy satisfaction. For exploratory outcomes, 20 patients participated in semi-structured interviews, including three questions about VCT-, patient-therapist-, and technical quality satisfaction rated on a 7-point Likert scale. A multiple regression analysis and exploratory analyses were conducted, and two-tailed Spearman’s rank correlations coefficients were calculated. Results: 318 (64.5%) patients completed the assessment. Main outcomes showed a mean VCT satisfaction of 6.35 on a 10-point Likert scale. Also, the independent variables accounted for 9% of the variability in VCT satisfaction, R² = .09, F(5, 214) = 5.319, p < .001. Women (M = 6.96, SD = 2.19) tended to be more satisfied with VCT than men (M = 5.93, SD = 2.18), β = 0.2, t(214) = 3.08, p < .01. Exploratory outcomes showed a mean therapeutic alliance satisfaction of 4.89 on a 7-point Likert scale, and a significant positive relationship between technical quality and VCT satisfaction, ρ(17) = .55, p = .016. Conclusion: Trauma-exposed patients are somewhat satisfied with VCT and it is possible to develop a good therapeutic-patient relationship using VCT is. Therefore, continuation of VCT for trauma and stress-related disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic is recommended. The findings are of relevance and interest, and can serve as a foundation for further research.