Table 3 Advantages and disadvantages of IBIs according to clinicians
Themes | Subthemes | Example quotes |
|---|---|---|
Advantages | Reaches clients experiencing barriers | “Can reach rural clients who don’t have transportation or access. ‘Cause if somebody lives a couple hours away from any service provider, that’s a significant barrier to coming in and accessing treatment.” |
“Sometimes my clients will say, ‘I can’t afford to come and see you. I don’t have gas money.’ And so it’s cheaper to [go online].” | ||
“[Can reach] people with health issues. ‘Cause I have a gentleman who has a lot of hip issues right now, and so I just do contact over the phone instead of him coming in cos that was a huge barrier for him.” | ||
“[Can reach people with] mental health issues too. Phobias.” | ||
“They might be more comfortable because of the stigma piece.” | ||
“I have several gambling clients that are in rural areas so they’re about an hour, an hour and a half away … and so I sit at my desk and remote in with them.” | ||
Promotes client-centred care | “It gives the clients the power, the opportunity to choose what they want, what they feel they need at that time.” | |
“Could be anonymous if people want to.” | ||
Frees up time for clinicians | “It’s time for me. It’s like any other client that I know is going to be there just clicks on, boom, the client’s there, I see them, see the next client that’s in the waiting room. I don’t have to drive too. I don’t have travel time. I don’t have anything, really, except to sign in and it pops up.” | |
Increases uptake | “I think it could generate more numbers for our programs if people could connect and do like an assessment or screening and then come in to see us.” | |
Disadvantages | Decreases trust | “Am I trusting without knowing who’s behind that name online?” |
“Confidentiality could be breached.” | ||
Comes with technological limitations | “You only see a proportion [on the screen].” | |
“Sometimes technology fails us.” | ||
Reduces quality of therapeutic work | “Distractions from our end ‘cause I even find if I’m on the phone with a client, I might be sometimes multitasking, like, I’m not even focusing.” | |
Comes with its own barriers | “Clients can’t always afford the Internet, or own a computer.” |