{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T02:59:33Z","timestamp":1787626773709,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]],"date-time":"2025-12-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766966400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":28,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Australian Commonwealth\u2019s Cooperative Research Centres"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100024780","name":"Digital Health CRC Limited","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100024780","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption, offering remote consultations via phone and video. Allied health services are one part of the healthcare system where telehealth, in specific teleconsultations, has been applied and has shown promising results in improving healthcare access by breaking down financial, logistical and geographic barriers. However, more insight is needed into the consumer\u2019s perspective. A consumer is anyone who has used, currently uses or will use telehealth for allied health services. Therefore, this study explores consumer experiences and preferences, identifying barriers and facilitators to telehealth for allied health services.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This qualitative study used focus group discussions to evaluate consumers\u2019 experiences with telehealth for allied health services. Allied health was defined as healthcare professionals distinct from medical, dental and nursing fields. Eight focus groups with 57 participants were conducted. The participants were recruited from the general public as well as seldom represented communities such as a support service focused on improving and maintaining members\u2019 mental health, the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, young disabled people and the Pacific Islander community. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Five main themes were identified. First, the consumer with their individual characteristics and context played a major role in the suitability of telehealth. Second, the allied health practitioner and their skills influenced the quality and therefore the success of remote consultations. Further, the relationship between consumer and practitioner contributed to the success of telehealth. The appointment itself was equally often discussed. While telehealth improved access to care, remote appointments were seen as more suitable for questions and verbal exchanges. Lastly, the technology was an important factor with the availability of necessary technology and the accessibility of it playing a central role.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings reinforce existing research while highlighting new insights from often under-represented groups, emphasising the importance of telehealth choice, accessible technology and quality standards.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-102862","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T06:30:24Z","timestamp":1767076224000},"page":"e102862","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Qualitative exploration of consumers\u2019 experiences and perceptions of telehealth for allied health services in Australia"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3037-886X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Deniz","family":"Senyel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-0794-2906","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Madison","family":"Frith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katherine","family":"Burnard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alison","family":"Coughlan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0383-812X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Feby","family":"Savira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Deakin University Institute for Health Transformation, Burwood, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Richard","family":"Norman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5703-6475","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suzanne","family":"Robinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia"},{"name":"Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"James","family":"Boyd","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/24087","article-title":"Use of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review","volume":"22","author":"Doraiswamy","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compbiomed.2021.104878"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633X20916567"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mayocp.2020.06.052"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/tmj.2011.0103"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/10775587221093043"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/39384","article-title":"Use of General Practitioner Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Regional Victoria, Australia: Retrospective Analysis","volume":"25","author":"Savira","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.8","unstructured":"Allied Health Professions Australia . What is allied health. n.d. Available: https:\/\/www.ahpa.com.au\/what-is-allied-health"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.9","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health Welfare . Health workforce. Canberra AIHW; 2024."},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.10","unstructured":"Allied Health Professions Australia . Allied health professions. n.d. Available: https:\/\/www.ahpa.com.au\/allied-health-professions"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.11","unstructured":"Department of Health DaA . Summary statistics, allied health, all professions. 2024. Available: https:\/\/hwd.health.gov.au\/resources\/data\/summary-all.html"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2340\/16501977-2297"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1111\/ap.12464","article-title":"Attitudes of Australian psychologists towards the delivery of therapy via video conferencing technology","volume":"55","author":"Knott","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust Psychol"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.14","first-page":"578","article-title":"Understanding and Accommodating Patient and Staff Choice When Implementing Video Consultations in Mental Health Services","volume":"39","author":"Painter","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comput Inform Nurs"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.15","first-page":"e1","article-title":"The perspectives of speech-language pathologists: Providing teletherapy to patients with speech, language and swallowing difficulties during a COVID-19 context","volume":"69","author":"Tar-Mahomed","year":"2022","journal-title":"S Afr J Commun Disord"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1159\/000523775","article-title":"Telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Patients and Physical Therapists\u2019 Experiences","volume":"31","author":"Buabbas","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Princ Pract"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1177\/11795727221117503","article-title":"Remote Delivery of Service: A Survey of Occupational Therapists\u2019 Perceptions","volume":"11","author":"Almog","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rehabil Process Outcome"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1002\/msc.1737","article-title":"The impact of remote consultations on the health and wellbeing of first contact physiotherapists in primary care: A mixed methods study","volume":"21","author":"Anchors","year":"2023","journal-title":"Musculoskeletal Care"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"618","DOI":"10.1111\/ap.12471","article-title":"The use of videoconferencing in clinical neuropsychology practice: A mixed methods evaluation of neuropsychologists\u2019 experiences and views","volume":"55","author":"Chapman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust Psychol"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-020-03907-w","article-title":"Telehealth sounds a bit challenging, but it has potential: participant and physiotherapist experiences of gym-based exercise intervention for Achilles tendinopathy monitored via telehealth","volume":"22","author":"Hasani","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Musculoskelet Disord"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105793","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfludis.2020.105793","article-title":"Stuttering therapy through telepractice in Turkey: A mixed method study","volume":"66","author":"Cangi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Fluency Disord"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2865","DOI":"10.1080\/09593985.2023.2296574","article-title":"Reaching for connection: a qualitative study of communication and interaction in video-based physiotherapy","volume":"40","author":"Lange","year":"2024","journal-title":"Physiother Theory Pract"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/46370","article-title":"Client and Clinician Experiences and Perspectives of Exercise Physiology Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study","volume":"25","author":"Brown","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102789","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msksp.2023.102789","article-title":"Qualitative exploration of physical therapists\u2019 experiences providing telehealth physical therapy during COVID-19","volume":"66","author":"Roitenberg","year":"2023","journal-title":"Musculoskelet Sci Pract"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1108\/JMHTEP-07-2021-0084","article-title":"A qualitative exploration of the experience and attitudes of exercise professionals using telehealth for people with mental illness","volume":"18","author":"McKeon","year":"2023","journal-title":"JMHTEP"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1177\/15691861221080311","article-title":"Perceived feasibility of an occupation-based telerehabilitation intervention for older adults with chronic health conditions in Israel","volume":"35","author":"Beit Yosef","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hong Kong J Occup Ther"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1080\/20473869.2021.1967078","article-title":"Experiences of therapists conducting psychological assessments and video conferencing therapy sessions with people with mild intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"69","author":"Oudshoorn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Dev Disabil"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/20359","article-title":"Utilization Barriers and Medical Outcomes Commensurate With the Use of Telehealth Among Older Adults: Systematic Review","volume":"8","author":"Kruse","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Med Inform"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjhci-2022-100676","article-title":"Telehealth interventions during COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of applications, challenges, privacy and security issues","volume":"30","author":"Tukur","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Health Care Inform"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2016.1262613"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.32","article-title":"Privacy and Security Risk Factors Related to Telehealth Services - A Systematic Review","volume":"20","author":"Houser","year":"2023","journal-title":"Perspect Health Inf Manag"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.3109\/09540261.2015.1082986","article-title":"Home-based clinical video teleconferencing care: Clinical considerations and future directions","volume":"27","author":"Morland","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int Rev Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-022-07827-4"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633X231201877","article-title":"Telehealth competencies for allied health professionals: A scoping review","volume":"31","author":"Anil","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Telemed Telecare"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"675","DOI":"10.1071\/AH21162","article-title":"Better Access: substantial shift to telehealth for allied mental health services during COVID-19 in Australia","volume":"45","author":"Reay","year":"2021","journal-title":"Aust Health Rev"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msksp.2021.102340"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1929","DOI":"10.1080\/09593985.2022.2059423","article-title":"Evaluating experiences, usability and patient satisfaction with telehealth for tertiary outpatient physiotherapy services during COVID-19: A mixed-methods study","volume":"39","author":"Ceprnja","year":"2023","journal-title":"Physiother Theory Pract"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/17298","article-title":"Determining if Telehealth Can Reduce Health System Costs: Scoping Review","volume":"22","author":"Snoswell","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000974","article-title":"The Current Accuracy, Cost-Effectiveness, and Uses of Musculoskeletal Telehealth and Telerehabilitation Services","volume":"21","author":"Rennie","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Sports Med Rep"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vhri.2021.07.007","article-title":"Quantifying the Societal Benefits From Telehealth: Productivity and Reduced Travel","volume":"28","author":"Snoswell","year":"2022","journal-title":"Value Health Reg Issues"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0283821","article-title":"Consumer preferences for telehealth in Australia: A discrete choice experiment","volume":"18","author":"Savira","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.43","first-page":"638","article-title":"The Use of Apps for Health in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson\u2019s Disease and Stroke - Barriers and Facilitators","volume":"242","author":"Winberg","year":"2017","journal-title":"Stud Health Technol Inform"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"567","DOI":"10.1017\/cjn.2017.47","article-title":"Survey of Canadian Myotonic Dystrophy Patients\u2019 Access to Computer Technology","volume":"44","author":"Climans","year":"2017","journal-title":"Can J Neurol Sci"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-023-15094-z","article-title":"Disability digital divide: survey of accessibility of eHealth services as perceived by people with and without impairment","volume":"23","author":"Pettersson","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.46","unstructured":"World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union . WHO-ITU global standard for accessibility of telehealth services. Geneva, 2022."},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/45118","article-title":"Development and Evaluation of eHealth Services Regarding Accessibility: Scoping Literature Review","volume":"25","author":"Jonsson","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-022-00778-1","article-title":"Do UK Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have sufficient guidelines and training to provide telehealth patient consultations?","volume":"20","author":"Leone","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hum Resour Health"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-055823","article-title":"Exploration of implementation, financial and technical considerations within allied health professional (AHP) telehealth consultation guidance: a scoping review including UK AHP professional bodies\u2019 guidance","volume":"11","author":"Leone","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2026010703484115000_15.12.e102862.50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633X221074499","article-title":"Beyond forced telehealth adoption: A framework to sustain telehealth among allied health services","volume":"30","author":"Thomas","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Telemed Telecare"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-102862","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T11:52:35Z","timestamp":1767786755000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-102862"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,29]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-102862"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-102862","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}}}