{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T15:13:51Z","timestamp":1759504431900,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759449600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Digit. Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>To explore Omani psychologists\u2019 perceptions and experiences of telephone-based psychotherapy consultations, specifically regarding service quality, accessibility, and acceptability.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>An exploratory qualitative study was conducted at Al Masarra Hospital in Muscat, Oman, between December 1 and 31, 2024. Five psychologists who provided telephone-based consultations were purposively sampled and participated in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews guided by the first three domains of the GDEISST framework (quality of services, accessibility, and acceptability). The acronym GDEISST stands for the \u201cGuide for the Design, Evaluation, and Implementation of Telemedicine-Based Health Services.\u201d Data analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis, while being guided by the first three domains of the GDEISST framework.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Telephone-based psychotherapy quality is optimized by adopting a hybrid model after in-person sessions to establish trust and using clear, intentional communication supported by formal guidelines and training to compensate for lost non-verbal cues. Accessibility is hindered by client-side factors (privacy, scheduling, connectivity) and institutional constraints (limited phone lines, private spaces, and trained personnel). Finally, telephone consultations are broadly acceptable, particularly for clinically stable or stigma-sensitive clients, who appreciate the convenience and discretion they offer, but are considered unsuitable for high-risk cases such as active psychosis or suicidal ideation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Telephone-based psychotherapy is viewed by Omani psychologists as a valuable adjunct to traditional care, enhancing access, reducing stigma, and supporting maintenance of stable clients provided that hybrid models (initial face-to-face engagement), structured training, and robust infrastructure are in place. However, high-risk or acutely unwell clients require in-person evaluation to ensure safety and treatment efficacy.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fdgth.2025.1621551","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T14:47:40Z","timestamp":1759502860000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychologists\u2019 experiences with telepsychology: qualitative analysis employing GDEISST framework"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Tamadhir","family":"Al-Mahrouqi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Zena M.","family":"Al-Sharbati","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Kamila","family":"Al-Alawi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Ahmed","family":"AlHarthi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Asayel","family":"Al Siyabi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Mohammed","family":"Al-Alawi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Shaima","family":"Al Humimia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Muna","family":"Al Salmi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Tharaya","family":"Al-Hashemi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Rahma","family":"Al Nuumani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Fatma","family":"Al Balushi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Hamed","family":"Al Sinawi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1007\/s11126-021-09926-7","article-title":"Transition of mental health service delivery to telepsychiatry in response to COVID-19: a literature review","volume":"93","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychiatr Q"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e26683","DOI":"10.2196\/26683","article-title":"Efficacy of a six-week-long therapist-guided online therapy versus self-help internet-based therapy for COVID-19\u2013induced anxiety and depression: open-label, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial","volume":"8","author":"Al-Alawi","year":"2021","journal-title":"JMIR Ment Heal"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1542","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11111542","article-title":"Attitudes of mental health professionals towards telepsychology during the pandemic: a pilot study","volume":"11","author":"Cavallo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthc"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2022.01.050","article-title":"An international survey examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth use among mental health professionals","volume":"148","author":"Montoya","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Psychiatr Res"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2023-079033","article-title":"Telephone-based telepsychiatry consultations: a qualitative exploration of psychiatrists\u2019 experiences in Oman","volume":"14","author":"Al-Mahrouqi","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101944","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2020.101944","article-title":"Are videoconferenced mental and behavioral health services just as good as in-person\u202f? 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