Adoption of tele health technology in mental and psychiatric services in Lebanon: a quantitative study.

Abstract

Background: The rapid adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic showcased its capacity to revolutionize healthcare by augmenting accessibility, decreasing expenses, and improving patient outcomes. This study evaluated Lebanon's preparedness for the implementation of tele-mental health, concentrating on identifying critical factors affecting its adoption by mental health experts.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was created and disseminated through email to mental health practitioners in Lebanon. The study employed the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) and utilized the Partial Least Squares- Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to provide a quantitative analysis of the determinants influencing the adoption of tele-mental health in psychiatric services.

Results: Among the 138 respondents including psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health nurses, 20% indicated they had never utilized telehealth for mental health services, whereas 54% had employed telehealth prior to the COVID-19 shutdown and expressed a desire to persist with its use. Furthermore, 19% utilized telehealth throughout the lockdown and continued its application, while 8% ceased its usage after the lockdown. The research revealed five primary factors affecting tele-mental health adoption: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, subjective norms, and job relevance.

Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of perceived usefulness, ease of use, perceived risk, subjective norm, and job relevance as essential factors influencing the uptake of tele-mental health services. Policymakers, healthcare administrators, and technology developers must concentrate on these criteria to optimize the introduction and sustainability of tele-mental health services in clinical practice, thereby ensuring enhanced mental health care delivery in Lebanon.