A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 25 July 2022
Issue publication date: 2 January 2023
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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Yarranabbe Foundation for funding this work. This project was funded by the Yarranabbe Foundation. GM is funded by a Suicide Prevention Australia Scholarship.
Citation
McKeon, G., Fitzgerald, C., Furzer, B., Rosenbaum, S., Stanton, R., Lederman, O., Harvey, S.B. and Wright, K. (2023), "A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 14-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2021-0084
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited