Analysis of topics and characteristics of user reviews on different online psychological counseling methods. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jingfang; Gao, Lu
• Is Part Of: International journal of medical informatics. Volume 147(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Mental health -- Online psychological counseling methods -- Psychological counseling user online reviews -- Topic analysis -- Content analysis -- Psychological characteristics; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Computers -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Technology, Medical -- Periodicals; Computers; Information science; Medical informatics; Medical technology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-5056

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The evaluation of the effectiveness of using online resources for mental health in China showed that people's ability to use resources effectively limits access to mental health services. In an online psychological counseling service, different counseling methods will produce different effects on different types of counseling patients. Using user reviews, the study showed that different online resources are more suitable than others depending on the individual's psychological characteristics, needs, and circumstances. Abstract: Background: Psychological support is available more widely supported by emerging technologies as an addition to face-to-face consultations, more and more people are accessing psychological support using online resources. Objective: This research provides insights into the perception of the key factors that affect the effectiveness of different online psychological counseling methods through the user reviews of four online psychological counseling modes and the tendency to choose the different counseling methods for users with different psychological problems. Methods: Using topic modeling analysis, Gooseeker content analysis, and the TextMind Chinese psychological analysis system, we analyzed 163, 377 online reviews from 2, 375 psychological consultants extracted from a leading online psychological consultation platform in China. Results: (1) Telephone counseling gains the most preferences among users. Text counseling has strong privacy protection. Video and face-to-face consultations are more authentic and comprehensive. (2) Parent-child education consultation users are more likely to choose face-to-face consultation, patients with common mental illnesses are more inclined to choose online counseling methods than offline consultation, career planning consultation clients prefer video consultation, and text counseling is more consistent with the periodical characteristics of relationship counseling. Conclusion: The research examined user reviews and used content analysis to understand patients' views on the effectiveness of online counseling methods, which supplement the current research gap through innovation in research methods.