Examining the Influence of Technologies and Environmental Design on Patient-Provider Interaction Quality in Telehealth

What is this research studying?
This study will help us learn how different telehealth technologies and environmental design factors impact the quality of patient-provider interactions during preventive care sessions. Specifically, the study aims to evaluate how environmental factors and technology setup (e.g., phone, laptop, LCD, and cameras) influence communication and the overall telehealth experience. By examining these factors, the study seeks to identify key environmental design elements that can optimize telehealth environments to improve care quality and patient satisfaction.
It is important to note that no specific medical or mental health advice, treatments, or prescriptions will be provided from providers during the study, and their study pairs must not have any known physical or mental health issues. The study is focused on testing telehealth technologies and environmental design, not providing medical diagnoses or interventions.

What will I do if I participate?
In this study, you will be asked to take part in four short telehealth sessions and one in-person session, held consecutively at the Family Therapy Clinic (FTC) at Texas Tech University. During the telehealth sessions, different technologies (e.g., phone, laptop, LCD, and cameras) will be used to assess how they affect the quality of interactions. Wellness Participants will be paired with a Provider (either a physical health or mental health specialist) and will remain with the same Provider throughout the study. Discussions will focus on general wellness topics, and no specific medical advice, treatments, or prescriptions will be given.
After each session, both Wellness Participants and Providers will complete a brief questionnaire on a tablet and participate in a one-question interview. The sessions will be video, and audio recorded with a camera installed in the room, and Zoom record will be used during telehealth sessions to capture the interactions for further analysis. There is a possibility that some of the questions and procedures may make you feel uncomfortable.

What are the benefits of participating in this research?
While there are no direct personal benefits to you, your participation will contribute to improving the quality of telehealth services by helping identify key technological and environmental factors that enhance patient-provider communication. This research aims to optimize telehealth environments for future preventive care consultations.

What are the risks of participating in this research?
The risks associated with this research are minimal. Some questions or discussions about general wellness topics may make you feel uncomfortable, and the telehealth sessions will be recorded. However, you may skip any questions you do not wish to answer or withdraw from the study at any time. We appreciate your time and effort with this research study.

Will I receive an incentive or compensation?
Yes, you will receive a $50 Amazon gift card as compensation for your time and participation. To receive the gift card, you must complete the entire study, which includes four telehealth sessions, one in-person session, and all associated surveys and interviews. If you decide to stop participating partway through the study, you will not receive the gift card. The gift card will be provided immediately after completing the final interview on the study day at the Family Therapy Clinic (FTC) at Texas Tech University. You will be asked to complete a Texas Tech University tax form to receive compensation. The form will ask you to provide your first and last name, address, citizenship, Social Security Number, phone number, and email. This information will be stored separately from your data and will be provided to Texas Tech University’s Payroll and Tax Services.