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Barriers and Facilitators to Resuming In-Person Psychotherapy with Perinatal Patients amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multistakeholder Perspective.
Andrejek, Nicole; Hossain, Sabrina; Schoueri-Mychasiw, Nour; Saeed, Gul; Zibaman, Maral; Puerto Niño, Angie K; Meltzer-Brody, Samantha; Silver, Richard K; Vigod, Simone N; Singla, Daisy R.
  • Andrejek N; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Hossain S; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Schoueri-Mychasiw N; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Saeed G; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
  • Zibaman M; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Puerto Niño AK; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Meltzer-Brody S; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
  • Silver RK; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
  • Vigod SN; Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada.
  • Singla DR; Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(22)2021 Nov 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1534065
ABSTRACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient psychotherapy transitioned to telemedicine. This study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators to resuming in-person psychotherapy with perinatal patients as the pandemic abates. We conducted focus group and individual interviews with a sample of perinatal participants (n = 23), psychotherapy providers (n = 28), and stakeholders (n = 18) from Canada and the U.S. involved in the SUMMIT trial, which is aimed at improving access to mental healthcare for perinatal patients with depression and anxiety. Content analysis was used to examine perceived barriers and facilitators. Reported barriers included concerns about virus exposure in a hospital setting (77.8% stakeholders, 73.9% perinatal participants, 71.4% providers) or on public transportation (50.0% stakeholders, 26.1% perinatal participants, 25.0% providers), wearing a mask during sessions (50.0% stakeholders, 25.0% providers, 13.0% participants), lack of childcare (66.7% stakeholders, 46.4% providers, 43.5% perinatal participants), general transportation barriers (50.0% stakeholders, 47.8% perinatal participants, 25.0% providers), and the burden of planning and making time for in-person sessions (35.7% providers, 34.8% perinatal participants, 27.8% stakeholders). Reported facilitators included implementing and communicating safety protocols (72.2% stakeholders, 47.8% perinatal participants, 39.3% providers), conducting sessions at alternative or larger locations (44.4% stakeholders, 32.1% providers, 17.4% perinatal participants), providing incentives (34.8% perinatal participants, 21.4% providers, 11.1% stakeholders), and childcare and flexible scheduling options (31.1% perinatal participants, 16.7% stakeholders). This study identified a number of potential barriers and illustrated that COVID-19 has fostered and amplified barriers. Future interventions to facilitate resuming in-person sessions should focus on patient-centered strategies based on empathy regarding ongoing risk-aversion among perinatal patients despite existing safety protocols, and holistic thinking to make access to in-person psychotherapy easier and more accessible for perinatal patients.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Pregnancy Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph182212234

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Pregnancy Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph182212234