A Scoping Review to Develop a Framework of Asynchronous Technology Competencies for Psychiatry and Medicine

Asynchronous technologies like mobile health, e-mail, e-consult, and asynchronous video telepsychiatry are effective modes of service delivery to a variety of settings and populations. To ensure quality care, clinicians need skills, knowledge, and attitudes for these technologies. This scoping review was based on the research question, “What skills are needed for clinicians and trainees to provide quality care asynchronously have been published, and how can they be made measurable and reproducible to teach and assess them?” A key word search was done in 9 databases based on five concept areas: (1) competencies; (2) asynchronous technologies; (3) synchronous video; (4) clinical therapeutic relationship; and (5) consultation to primary care. From a total of 4812 potential references, two authors found a total of 86 papers based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical studies rarely discuss specific skillsets or competencies. Existing publications on video, social media, and mobile health were used to build an asynchronous technology competency set according to the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education framework. Training, faculty development, and administrative changes to service delivery and workplace culture are suggested as part of institutional competencies. Research is needed on how to implement and evaluate asynchronous competencies for clinical care and training as part of organizational change to build a positive e-culture. Research is also needed across cultures and across user’s health, lifestyle, and clinical care experiences.