ORCID
- Anil, Krithika: 0000-0002-8027-1665
- Abey, Sally: 0000-0002-9330-6564
Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Telehealth has become one of the main methods of delivering allied health professional services worldwide, yet many professionals do not have sufficient training to deliver high-quality telehealth services. This review aims to identify what competencies allied health professionals require for effective telehealth service delivery. Methods: This scoping review used the Population Concept Context framework and searched the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, PEDro, United Kingdom Health Forum, WHO, Health Education England, and all UK and Australian AHP professional bodies. Results: A total of 37 articles were included out of 92,525 identified by the literature search. Competencies were related to two areas: (1) delivery of the telehealth consultation and (2) service management of telehealth consultations. The first area included the following competency themes: clinical reasoning, communication, effectively using technology, personcentred care, practice-based assessment and intervention knowledge/behaviour/skills, privacy, security, and patient safety, professionalism, and setting up the technical environment. The second area included the following competency themes: digital infrastructure, informing practice, and management. Although findings emphasised the importance of telehealth competencies, none have been implemented within education. One-third of the articles were from the discipline of psychology. Conclusion: This is the first scoping review to combine telehealth competencies reported across allied health disciplines. Although there were a vast range of competencies, they need implementation into teaching and learning to be practically useful. Most competencies were from psychology, but potentially applicable for other allied health professionals. A shared and adaptable standard for telehealth competencies would be useful to ensure high-quality practice across all allied health professionals.
DOI
10.1177/1357633x231201877
Publication Date
2023-08-31
Publication Title
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
ISSN
1357-633X
Embargo Period
2023-10-06
Organisational Unit
School of Health Professions
Recommended Citation
Anil, K., Bird, A., Bridgman, K., Erickson, S., Freeman, J., McKinstry, C., Robinson, C., & Abey, S. (2023) 'Telehealth competencies for allied health professionals: A scoping review', Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633x231201877
