A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness

McKeon, G; Fitzgerald, C; Furzer, B; Rosenbaum, S; Stanton, R; Lederman, O; Harvey, SB; Wright, K

A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness

McKeon, G Fitzgerald, C Furzer, B Rosenbaum, S Stanton, R Lederman, O

Harvey, SB Wright, K

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Publisher:: EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 2023, 18, (1), pp. 14-29
Issue Date:: 2023-01-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	McKeon, G
dc.contributor.author	Fitzgerald, C
dc.contributor.author	Furzer, B
dc.contributor.author	Rosenbaum, S
dc.contributor.author	Stanton, R
dc.contributor.author	Lederman, O https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0321-5723
dc.contributor.author	Harvey, SB
dc.contributor.author	Wright, K
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-29T23:16:20Z
dc.date.available	2024-01-29T23:16:20Z
dc.date.issued	2023-01-02
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 2023, 18, (1), pp. 14-29
dc.identifier.issn	1755-6228
dc.identifier.issn	2042-8707
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175036
dc.description.abstract	Purpose: Physical activity is an important component of treatment for people living with mental illness, and exercise practitioners are well placed to deliver these interventions. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lock-down regulations, exercise professionals have rapidly adapted to the online delivery of services to continue care for their clients. To date, the research surrounding the delivery of exercise sessions via telehealth for this population has been scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore how exercise professionals working in mental health have adapted to telehealth, the barriers and facilitators they have experienced and the implications for the future. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative study using semi-structure interviews was conducted. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Nine exercise physiologists working in mental health settings in Australia participated in the interviews. Two main themes were explored. The first related to the implementation of telehealth and was divided into four sub-themes: service delivery, accessibility and suitability, technology barriers and facilitators, adaptations to exercise prescription. The second theme related to attitudes and was categorised into two sub-themes: attitudes towards telehealth and future recommendations. Practical implications: Telehealth appears to be a feasible and well accepted platform to deliver exercise sessions for people with mental illness, and this study provides guidance for clinicians including service and training recommendations. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the experiences of exercise physiologists working in mental health and using telehealth.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2021-0084
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1110 Nursing, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	4205 Nursing
dc.subject.classification	4206 Public health
dc.subject.classification	5201 Applied and developmental psychology
dc.title	A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	18
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - HPRC - Human Performance Research Centre
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-01-29T23:16:19Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	18
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Purpose: Physical activity is an important component of treatment for people living with mental illness, and exercise practitioners are well placed to deliver these interventions. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lock-down regulations, exercise professionals have rapidly adapted to the online delivery of services to continue care for their clients. To date, the research surrounding the delivery of exercise sessions via telehealth for this population has been scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore how exercise professionals working in mental health have adapted to telehealth, the barriers and facilitators they have experienced and the implications for the future. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative study using semi-structure interviews was conducted. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Nine exercise physiologists working in mental health settings in Australia participated in the interviews. Two main themes were explored. The first related to the implementation of telehealth and was divided into four sub-themes: service delivery, accessibility and suitability, technology barriers and facilitators, adaptations to exercise prescription. The second theme related to attitudes and was categorised into two sub-themes: attitudes towards telehealth and future recommendations. Practical implications: Telehealth appears to be a feasible and well accepted platform to deliver exercise sessions for people with mental illness, and this study provides guidance for clinicians including service and training recommendations. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the experiences of exercise physiologists working in mental health and using telehealth.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175036