Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Telehealth is an accepted service-delivery model in a variety of health professions, including occupational therapy. Telehealth holds potential for school-based occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, monitoring, and supervision. As the use of telehealth becomes prevalent, it will be important to describe the benefits and barriers to potential types of occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, monitoring, and supervision delivered via a telehealth service-delivery model. Querying stakeholder perceptions of telehealth may help guide additional precipitating factors that have not yet been explored.
OBJECTIVE:
This study gathers information regarding perceptions, perceived barriers, and benefits of the use of telehealth in school-based occupational therapy practice.
METHODS:
School-based occupational therapy practitioners (OTP), district administrators, and related technology staff were invited to complete a survey intended to explore attitudes about the use of telehealth.
RESULTS:
28.57% of respondents stated that their districts were likely to adopt the use of telehealth. Participants noted perceived barriers and benefits to the use of telehealth.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides preliminary feedback regarding school-based OTP and administrator perceptions of telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice.
Introduction
The use of telehealth1 is an accepted service-delivery model in a variety of health professions, including occupational therapy (OT) [1]. The evidence literature describes promising uses for telehealth within the health professions. A case study by Ritchie, Miller, & Antle [2], for example, found no significant differences between ergonomics assessments delivered via telehealth when compared to in-person assessment [2]. Additionally, Cotton, Russell, Johnston, & Legge [3] found no significant differences in therapist training results whether training was delivered via telehealth methods (live video-conferencing, individual and group online modules) or in-person [3].
School-based occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) currently experience high caseload/workloads, and a shortage of occupational therapy (OT) providers exists within the United States [4]. While a collaborative consultation OT service-model has been shown to improve student outcomes [5], therapist caseloads and difficulty coordinating schedules lead to limited time for collaboration between occupational therapist and classroom teacher/educational team. The evidence literature shows emerging support for the use of a telehealth service-delivery model in pediatric occupational therapy practice [6–14, 18]. The use of telehealth in pediatric occupational therapy has been shown to be effective by increasing access to specialist care and preventing delays in provision of services [9], providing increased collaboration and carry-over of treatment strategies [15], and improving overall therapist/client satisfaction [10, 16–18]. Research on telehealth in general provides support for client satisfaction with the use of this service-delivery format [19–23]. The use of telehealth holds potential for school-based occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, monitoring, and supervision [24]. Despite emerging evidence, the use of telehealth as a component of school-based occupational therapy practice is limited. Previous studies have explored school-based Speech & Language Pathologists’ (SLP) qualitative perspectives on telehealth in the SLP community [25], but similar studies are limited relative to school-based occupational therapy.
Occupational therapy students are beginning to acquire telehealth-related skills in accredited OT programs [9]. Additionally, The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires, under Standard B.1.8, that students demonstrate an understanding of technology, including but not limited to, technologies such as the use of telehealth [9, 26]. Reimbursement for occupational therapy services delivered via telehealth is not universal [9] and, as of this writing, reimbursement policies for occupational therapy services delivered via telehealth vary on a state-by-state basis.
As the use of telehealth becomes more prevalent, it will be important to describe and differentiate the benefits of and barriers to potential types of occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, monitoring, and supervision delivered via a telehealth service-delivery model [24]. Additionally, it will be important to consider the potential uses of telehealth as a delivery model for conducting unobtrusive classroom observations [24], and multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) services for students who do not currently receive formal special education services. Querying stakeholder perceptions of telehealth may help guide additional precipitating factors that have not yet been explored [25].
End-user acceptance of interactive technologies is listed as a continued barrier to the use of telehealth [27] and clinician satisfaction is a critical factor for the widespread acceptance and use of telehealth [28]. Further information is needed on how best to promote clinician satisfaction with the use of this service delivery model. Hersch et al. [29], explored occupational therapists’ perceptions of the use of a telehealth service-delivery model in the Houston, Texas area. Of the 51 survey respondents, 22% reported using a telehealth service-delivery model to conduct evaluations or deliver interventions. These results suggest that a majority of occupational therapy practitioners do not currently use telehealth in clinical practice. However, 52% of respondents felt that telehealth has the potential to improve clinical practice. The authors noted a need for more education and training in telehealth technology for OT practitioners [29].
Research questions
What are the potential uses of a telehealth service-delivery model to augment school-based occupational therapy practice? What are the perceived barriers and supports to the implementation of this service-delivery model in a school district setting?
Methods
School-based occupational therapists, certified occupational therapy assistants, district administrators, and technology staff representing three school districts in a suburban, Midwestern area were invited to complete an online survey intended to explore their attitudes about the use of telehealth as a component of school-based occupational therapy practice. School districts were identified based on convenience sampling. School districts were part of suburban cities which had overall populations between ∼32,000 and ∼150,000, with average household incomes ranging from $89,000–110,000 (U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts, 2016) [30]. A link to the online survey (administered via the Qualtrics software platform) was distributed to participants via e-mail. A total of 67 participants were invited to complete the online survey. Participants provided consent to participate in the study via a questionnaire item prior to beginning the survey. In order to ensure confidentiality of information, all data collection materials and data files were stored in a secure electronic database on the SAR-Nas server (Boston University). Survey responses were anonymous to ensure confidentiality. Open-ended responses were analyzed using a technique closely matched to directed content analysis [31]. Common themes were identified when possible. This survey was a component of a doctoral project in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University. Permission to complete research within each individual school district was granted. The Boston University Institutional Review Board granted exempt approval for this study.
Results
Of 67 individuals contacted, 27 respondents completed the online survey (40.3% response rate). All 27 participants gave their consent to participate in the survey. Not all participants completed each item on the survey, thus response rates varied across survey items.
Participants (n = 26) identified their roles in the school districts they represented, their type of school setting, and their number of years of experience. See Table 1 for a description of demographic information.
Demographic information of survey participants (n = 26)
Demographic information of survey participants (n = 26)
Participants identified whether their school districts have a policy regarding the use of telehealth, commented on the likelihood of telehealth adoption within their school districts, and commented on their level of interest in a proposed telehealth educational program. Results are noted in Table 2.
District policy, likelihood of telehealth adoption, and interest in telehealth educational program
Participants (n = 17) described potential benefits of the use of telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice. Open-ended responses were organized using content analysis. Similar responses were identified and organized around common themes. The following perceived benefit categories were identified: 1) Logistics, 2) MTSS/classroom observations, 3) Support for homebound students, 4) Collaboration, consultation, & supervision, and 5) Other perceived benefits. Examples of participant responses within each category are provided in Table 3.
Perceived benefits of telehealth
Perceived benefits of telehealth
Participants (n = 19) described potential barriers to the use of telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice. Open-ended responses were organized using content analysis. Similar responses were identified and organized around common themes. The following perceived barrier categories were identified: 1) Logistics, 2) Lack of physical contact, 3) Student factors, 4) Privacy concerns, 5) Difficulty completing student evaluations, and 6) Other perceived barriers. Examples of participant responses within each category are provided in Table 4.
Perceived barriers of telehealth
Perceived barriers of telehealth
Participants (n = 14) identified comments and/or questions regarding telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice. Open-ended responses were organized using content analysis. Similar responses were identified and organized around four common themes: 1) Questions about telehealth, 2) “Pro-telehealth” comments, 3) Telehealth “cautionary” comments, and 4) Neutral comments. Examples of participant responses within each category are provided in Table 5.
Questions and comments about telehealth
Questions and comments about telehealth
Participants were also asked to comment on any research they were aware of (other than this study) on the use of telehealth within the district/organization they represent. No participant stated that he or she was aware of any other research on telehealth within their organizations (n = 15).
According to results, participants identified several perceived benefits to the use of telehealth, including cost-savings, addressing staffing/provider shortages, allowing flexible scheduling, utilizing telehealth for MTSS and unobtrusive classroom observations, providing support for students on homebound services due to medical issues, enhancing collaboration, consultation, and supervision, and other perceived benefits. Additionally, participants identified several perceived barriers to the use of telehealth, including access to/availability of equipment and training required to implement, scheduling issues, difficulty with supervision of students or staff, overall logistics issues, lack of physical contact, difficulty building rapport, attention to task and independence of student, generalization of skills, privacy concerns, difficulty completing student evaluations, and other perceived barriers.
The use of telehealth in pediatric occupational therapy practice has the potential to increase access to specialist care and prevent delays in the provision of services [9], provide increased collaboration and carry-over of treatment strategies [15], and improve overall therapist/client satisfaction [10, 18]. As the use of telehealth becomes prevalent, it will be important to further describe and differentiate the benefits and barriers to potential types of occupational therapy evaluation, intervention, consultation, monitoring, and supervision delivered via this service-delivery model [24]. This study provides preliminary feedback regarding school-based OTP and administrator perceptions of telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice. According to results of this pilot survey, within these three school districts in a suburban area of the Midwestern United States, OTP currently do not use a telehealth service-delivery model. According to Nissen & Brockevelt [32], education is a critical factor necessary to promote successful implementation of telehealth in clinical practice [32]. Additional theorists, including Rogers (Diffusion of Innovation) [33], and Knowles (Adult Learning Theory) [34], propose that education can play a role in adoption of new technologies for adult learners. According to the results of this pilot survey, 9 of 21 participants (42.86%) expressed an interest in participating in an educational program about the use of telehealth. The delivery of a participant-centered educational program could further expand participant knowledge of telehealth and, in turn, increase the likelihood of adoption of the use of telehealth as a component of clinical practice. Additional research is needed to explore the perceived (and real) barriers and supports to the use of telehealth as a component of school-based occupational therapy practice. As state and federal telehealth policy and reimbursement factors evolve, OTP may become more likely to utilize a telehealth service-delivery model as a component of practice, thus creating expanded opportunities for clinical research.
Limitations
In addition to a limited response rate and small sample size, practitioners who responded to this survey do not currently utilize telehealth technologies. A survey of OTP who currently use telehealth as a component of school-based practice may yield alternate results. Additionally, this survey might be conducted on a multi-state or national level to identify common themes across diverse geographical areas.
Conclusion
The use of telehealth as a component of school-based occupational therapy service-delivery is a complex issue requiring mindful consideration. This study provides preliminary feedback regarding school-based OTP and administrator perceptions of telehealth as a component of school-based OT practice. The use of telehealth has the potential to promote access to OT services in specific school therapy arrangements and contexts via enrichment of collaborative consultation with parents/teachers, provision or supplementation of service-delivery in rural areas and/or school districts experiencing high therapist caseloads/workloads, and other specific student situations that might warrant a telehealth approach. Additional considerations, including privacy, security, ethical, reimbursement, liability, and licensure issues, must be explored and addressed. As practitioners, if we envision the use of telehealth as an enhancement to traditional OT service-delivery in the school setting, how are we to proceed? If situations arise within school districts that warrant a telehealth-based approach, are school teams comfortable addressing it? If not, how are we to ensure that teams are equipped with this knowledge and technology? Additional collaboration between occupational therapy researchers and clinicians may provide preliminary answers to these important questions.
Conflict of interest
None to report.
Footnotes
Acknowledgments
This study was completed as a component of a post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy program at Boston University, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Portions of this document (sometimes in slightly different forms) were previously published by the Robert J. Waters Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law.
