Background Homework is implemented with variable effectiveness in real-world therapy settings, indicating a need for innovative solutions to homework challenges. We developed Adhere.ly, a user-friendly, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant web-based platform to help therapists implement homework with youth clients and their caregivers. The initial version had limited functionality, was designed for youth clients and their caregivers, and required expanding available features and exercises to suit adult clients. Objective The purpose of this study was to better understand barriers and potential solutions to homework implementation experienced by therapists seeing adult clients and obtain their input on new features and exercises that would enable Adhere.ly to better meet their needs when working with this population. Methods This study used an exploratory, sequential mixed methods design that included 13 semistructured focus groups with mental health therapists and clinic leaders and a survey administered to 100 therapists. Analyses were performed using the NVivo qualitative analysis software and SPSS. Results The findings revealed common barriers, such as clients and therapists being busy, forgetting to complete homework, managing multiple platforms and homework materials, and clients lacking motivation. Adhere.ly was perceived as a potential solution, particularly its user-friendly interface and SMS text-message based reminders. Therapists suggested integrating Adhere.ly with telemedicine and electronic health record platforms and adding more exercises to support manualized therapy protocols and therapy guides. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of technology-based solutions in addressing barriers to homework implementation in mental health treatment with adult clients. Adhere.ly shows promise in addressing these challenges and has the potential to improve therapy efficiency and homework completion rates. The input from therapists informed the development of Adhere.ly, guiding the expansion of features and exercises to better meet the needs of therapists working with adult clients.

Despite its effectiveness, limited research has examined the provision of telemental health (TMH) and how practices may vary according to treatment paradigm. We surveyed 276 community mental health providers registered with a commercial telemedicine platform. Most providers reported primarily offering TMH services to adults with anxiety, depression, and trauma-and stressor-related disorders in individual therapy formats. Approximately 82% of TMH providers reported endorsing the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in their remote practice. The most commonly used in-session and between-session (i.e., homework) exercises included coping and emotion regulation, problem solving, mindfulness, interpersonal skills, relaxation, and modifying and addressing core beliefs. CBT TMH providers had a higher odds of using in-session and homework exercises and assigning them through postal mail, email or fax methods, as compared to non-CBT TMH providers. TMH providers, regardless of treatment paradigm, felt that assigning homework was neither easy nor difficult and they believed their patients were somewhat-to-moderately compliant to their assigned exercises. CBT TMH providers also collected clinical information from their patients more often than non-CBT TMH providers. They reported being less satisfied with their method, which was identified most often as paper-based surveys and forms. Overall, TMH providers employ evidence-based treatments to their patients remotely, with CBT TMH providers most likely to do so. Findings highlight the need for innovative solutions to improve how TMH providers that endorse following the CBT treatment paradigm remotely assign homework and collect clinical data to increase their satisfaction via telemedicine.

Understanding what motivates mental health providers to use telemedicine (i.e., telemental health) is critical for optimizing its uptake, especially during unprecedented times (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). Drawing from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this report examined the characteristics of telemental health providers and how the acceptability of telemedicine features contributes to their intention to use the technology more often in practice. Telemental health providers (N = 177) completed an online survey between March and May 2019. Most providers (75%) spent less than 25% of their work-week using telemedicine, but 70% reported an intention to use telemedicine more in the future. The belief that telemedicine affords greater access to patients, work-life balance, flexibility in providing care, and the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovative care were significant predictors of intentions to use the technology more in the future. Other significant predictors included needing assistance to coordinate insurance reimbursements, manage a successful telemedicine practice, and integrate the telemedicine program with other health IT software. Findings have important implications for increasing the frequency of telemedicine use among telemental health providers. Future research and practice should leverage providers' positive beliefs about telemedicine acceptability and consider their needs to enhance its uptake.