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Acceptability of psychological treatment to Chinese- and Caucasian-Australians: Internet treatment reduces barriers but face-to-face care is preferred

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Internet treatments have the potential to improve access, especially for cultural groups who face considerable treatment barriers. This study explored the perceived barriers and likelihood of using Internet and face-to-face treatments for depression among Chinese and Caucasian Australian participants.

Methods

Three-hundred ninety-five (289 Chinese, 106 Caucasian) primary care patients completed a questionnaire about depression history, previous help-seeking, perceived barriers to Internet and face-to-face treatment, and likelihood of using either treatment for depressive symptoms.

Results

Internet treatment reduced perceived barriers (including stigma, lack of motivation, concerns of bringing up upsetting feelings, time constraints, transport difficulties, and cost) for both groups to a similar degree, except for time constraints. There were heightened concerns about the helpfulness, suitability, and confidentiality of Internet treatments. Chinese participants and individuals with a probable depression history reported increased perceived barriers across treatments. Both Chinese and Caucasian groups preferred face-to-face treatment across depression severity. However, when age was controlled, there were no significant concerns about Internet treatment, and face-to-face treatment was only preferred for severe depression. Only 12 % of the entire sample refused to try Internet treatment for depression. Endorsement of perceived Internet treatment barriers (including concerns of bringing up upsetting feelings, that treatment would be unhelpful or unsuitable, lack of motivation, cost, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality) reduced the likelihood to try Internet treatments.

Conclusions

Internet treatment reduced perceived treatment barriers across groups, with encouraging support for Internet treatment as an acceptable form of receiving help. Negative concerns about Internet treatment need to be addressed to encourage use.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Australian Chinese Medical Association and the participating medical centres for assistance with recruitment, and Dr. Judy Zou for back-translating the Chinese questionnaire.

Conflict of interest

I. Choi was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council Postgraduate (Primary Health Care) Scholarship. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Brennan MacCallum Building (A18), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Isabella Choi, Louise Sharpe & Caroline Hunt

  2. Core Pathology and Clinical Chemistry, ICPMR Pathology West, NSW Health, Sydney, Australia

    Stephen Li

Authors
  1. Isabella Choi
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  2. Louise Sharpe
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  3. Stephen Li
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  4. Caroline Hunt
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Correspondence to Isabella Choi.

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Choi, I., Sharpe, L., Li, S. et al. Acceptability of psychological treatment to Chinese- and Caucasian-Australians: Internet treatment reduces barriers but face-to-face care is preferred. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 50, 77–87 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0921-1

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