Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41780920›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2026

Mental Health Professionals' Perceptions of Benefits and Disadvantages of Telehealth: International Mixed Methods Study.

Madeline I Montoya, Cary S Kogan, Brigitte Khoury, José A García-Pacheco, Rebeca Robles, Tahilia J Rebello, Maya Kulygina, Geoffrey M Reed

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Madeline I MontoyaSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6686-8355
Cary S KoganSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6598-2779
Brigitte KhouryDepartment of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3283-2875
José A García-PachecoCentro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Mexico City, Mexico.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8426-1977
Rebeca RoblesCenter for Global Mental Health Research, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5958-7393
Tahilia J RebelloColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1918-3225
Maya KulyginaTraining and Research Centre, Mental-Health Clinic No.1 Named After N.A. Alekseev, Moscow, Russian Federation.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4255-8240
Geoffrey M ReedDepartment of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6572-4785

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTelehealth has become an integral component of mental health care delivery worldwide. Understanding provider perceptions is essential to guiding its continued implementation.

objectiveThis international study used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine and broaden our understanding of the benefits and concerns related to telehealth for mental health care.

methodsAn internet-based survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic between November 11 and December 18, 2020, among mental health professionals, primarily psychiatrists and psychologists, registered with the World Health Organization's Global Clinical Practice Network. Clinicians completed the survey in 1 of 6 languages (Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish). Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to analyze quantitative survey data on concerns and implementation of telehealth. Responses to an open-ended question about providers' perspectives on the benefits of telehealth were analyzed qualitatively.

resultsIn total, 847 participants completed the telehealth section of the survey, and 496 provided a response to the open-ended question. Quantitative data on telehealth use and concerns revealed that clinicians' primary concerns focused on technical issues and clinical effectiveness relative to in-person services, specifically, loss of clinical information (eg, nonverbal behavior) and challenges with establishing a therapeutic alliance. Findings varied by profession, World Health Organization region, and telehealth training and experience. Qualitative data examining benefits fell into 3 major areas: accessibility and reach of mental health services, efficiency and flexibility for clinicians, and enhancement of clinical processes and outcomes. Taken together, findings revealed a trade-off between telehealth benefits and disadvantages.

conclusionsFrom the perspective of mental health professionals, telehealth practice comes with key challenges and valuable benefits. Findings offer important considerations for the implementation of telehealth systems, including the importance of training and education and balancing trade-offs to optimize care.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCOVID-19Health PersonnelMental Health ServicesTelemedicineAdultDigital HealthFemaleHumansMaleMental Health TeletherapyMiddle AgedPsychiatristsPsychologistsSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19global mental healthimplementation sciencemental health professionalstelehealth

Identifiers

PMID41780920
PMCPMC13000382

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.