Evidence for telehealth group-based treatment

A systematic review

Gentry, Melanie T
Lapid, Maria I
Clark, Matthew M
Rummans, Teresa A

Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, USA

Melanie T Gentry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Email: [email protected]

Received January 29, 2018

Accepted April 17, 2018

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 25(6):p 327-342, July 2019. | DOI: 10.1177/1357633X18775855

Background

Interest in the use of telehealth interventions to increase access to healthcare services is growing. Group-based interventions have the potential to increase patient access to highly needed services. The aim of this study was to systematically review the available literature on group-based video teleconference services.

Methods

The English-language literature was searched using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL for terms related to telehealth, group therapy and support groups. Abstracts were reviewed for relevance based on inclusion criteria. Multiple study types were reviewed, including open-label, qualitative and randomised controlled trial study designs. Data were compiled regarding participants, study intervention and outcomes. Specific areas of interest were the feasibility of and satisfaction with telehealth technology, as well as the effect of video teleconference delivery on group dynamics, including therapeutic alliance.

Results

Forty published studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Six were randomised controlled trials. Among the studies, there was a broad range of study designs, participants, group interventions and outcome measures. Video teleconference groups were found to be feasible and resulted in similar treatment outcomes to in-person groups. However, few studies were designed to demonstrate noninferiority of video teleconference groups compared with in-person groups. Studies that examined group process factors showed small decreases in therapeutic alliance in the video teleconference participants.

Conclusions

Video teleconference groups are feasible and produce outcomes similar to in-person treatment, with high participant satisfaction despite technical challenges. Additional research is needed to identify optimal methods of video teleconference group delivery to maximise clinical benefit and treatment outcomes.