Video-consulting to address mental health needs after traumatic brain injury: evaluation of a training workshop to build capacity among psychologists.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to significant psychological distress, but few psychologists in Australia are trained in working with this complex clinical group. Despite government funding to provide video-consulting (VC) services in Australia, uptake before COVID-19 was limited.

OBJECTIVE

This mixed methods study evaluated whether training in eHealth and evidence based TBI psychological therapies increased provider uptake of VC in clinical practice, and delivery of mental health services to individuals with TBI.

METHODS

Mental health professionals completed a range of self-report measures before (n = 50), after (n = 48), and four months following (n = 30) a one-day workshop. Participants' TBI knowledge, client-base and levels of access, confidence, motivation and attitudes toward VC were assessed. Knowledge did not increase after training but participants had significant increases in their confidence and motivation to using VC at follow up. Significant reductions in pragmatic barriers to using VC were reported post training and at follow up, all barrier categories indicated significant reductions. There was no significant change in clinical practice of the participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Training to increase TBI knowledge requires specific assessment tools and although training appears to reduce barriers to using VC, uptake in clinical practice may require additional supervision and warrants further research.