Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41714902›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol review2026

Australian Clients' Perspectives on Accessing Alcohol and Other Drug Counselling via Telehealth: A Qualitative Study.

Ashlea Bartram, Md Abdul Ahad, Dan I Lubman, April Long, Ele Morrison, Jill Rundle, Nicole Lee, Scott Wilson, Jacqueline Bowden

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol review, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ashlea BartramNational Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4657-6948
Md Abdul AhadNational Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Dan I LubmanMonash Addiction Research Centre and Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
April LongSmart Recovery Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Ele MorrisonAustralian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League, Melbourne, Australia.
Jill RundleWestern Australian Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies, Perth, Australia.
Nicole LeeHello Sunday Morning, Sydney, Australia.
Scott WilsonAboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council, Adelaide, Australia.
Jacqueline BowdenNational Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1983-8930

Funding

Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government 4-IN4X1RZ
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTelehealth-the delivery of services via phone or video-has the potential to overcome barriers to attending alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselling by removing the need to physically attend appointments. However, it may raise other barriers related to technical difficulties, privacy concerns, or challenges developing a therapeutic relationship. Little is known regarding client preferences when both face-to-face and telehealth services are available. This study aimed to explore clients' views on the benefits and drawbacks of accessing AOD counselling via telehealth in comparison to face-to-face.

methodsThis qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 22 Australians who had received AOD counselling services via telehealth and face-to-face within the past 12 months. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

resultsAll participants indicated they would be open to accessing AOD counselling via telehealth again in the future in at least some circumstances, although their preferences for telehealth or face-to-face sessions varied. Participants' discussion of preferences reflected five themes: (i) telehealth helps to overcome barriers to accessing counselling; (ii) telehealth can increase confidence to engage in counselling; (iii) telehealth can limit rapport; (iv) privacy concerns with telehealth counselling; and (v) increasing awareness of telehealth can support client choice. DISCUSSIONS AND

conclusionsParticipants viewed availability and awareness of the option to access AOD counselling via telehealth as important to client-centred care. Service providers may need to invest in clinician training and systems development to ensure that they can provide safe, secure and effective counselling via telehealth.

Indexed as

CounselingHealth Services AccessibilityPatient PreferenceSubstance-Related DisordersTelemedicineAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchYoung AdultAustraliaclientscounsellingsubstance‐related disorderstelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID41714902
PMCPMC12920781

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.