JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is an effective treatment for chronically ill patients to improve self-management skills and learn to adjust to their chronic disease and its impact on daily life. Implementation of iCBT in clinical practice, however, is challenging.

Objective:

To examine the current degree of implementation of iCBT among medical psychologists in Dutch hospitals, and to discover determinants influencing the implementation of iCBT among non-users.

Methods:

An online survey, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), was distributed among medical psychologists in Dutch hospitals. The survey included questions regarding current use of iCBT, intention to use iCBT in the future, and operationalized concepts of the UTAUT constructs performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions.

Results:

In total, 107 medical psychologists completed the survey (24.8%). Of them, 15.9% currently used iCBT and 21.5% expected to use iCBT within the next year. The constructs performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence together significantly influenced behavioural intention (M = 3.9, SD = 0.8) among non-users (R2 = .490, F = 20.405, P < .001).

Conclusions:

In spite of an average to high behavioural intention, the current implementation of iCBT is rather low among medical psychologists. Further research should focus on reducing the gap between intention to use and actual use by focussing on influencing the predictive UTAUT constructs.