Table 1 Benefits and drawbacks of blended (online) therapy for depression according to therapists and patients (phase 1)
|  | Therapists (n = 12) | Patients (n = 8) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Statements | (totally) agree a | (totally) disagree a | (totally) agree a | (totally) disagree a |
Self-management | ||||
 Convenient to always have access to therapy content | 92 (11) | 8 (1) | 100 (8) | 0 (0) |
 Encourages patients to take more responsibility for (succeeding of) therapy | 83 (10) | 17 (2) | 100 (8) | 0 (0) |
 Therapy blends more into the patients’ home/private situation | 92 (11) | 8 (1) | 88 (7) | 13 (1) |
 Sessions can be completed in own time | 92 (11) | 0 (0) | 80 (6) | 13 (1) |
 Sessions can be completed in own pace | 83 (10) | 17 (2) | 80 (6) | 25 (2) |
 Patients have to travel less | 67 (8) | 25 (3) | 80 (6) | 13 (1) |
Patient-provider relationship | ||||
 Ability to see a patient/therapist face-to-face | 83 (10) | 0 (0) | 100 (8) | 0 (0) |
 Therapy structure becomes more transparent | 58 (7) | 17 (2) | 50 (4) | 38 (3) |
 Could provide better tailoring to the individual patient | 33 (4) | 17 (2) | 88 (7) | 13 (1) |
 Patient-therapist bonding could weaken | 25 (3) | 50 (6) | 50 (4) | 50 (4) |
 Using online sessions is too impersonal | 0 (0) | 67 (8) | 13 (1) | 50 (4) |
Changes in face-to-face sessions | ||||
 Face-to-face sessions can be optimally used, due to preparation in the online environment | 75 (9) | 8 (1) | 88 (7) | 13 (1) |
 Difficulties or indistinct matters could be more difficult to discuss | 25 (3) | 58 (7) | 50 (4) | 50 (4) |
Possible drawbacks | ||||
 It is not suitable for every patient | 92 (11) | 0 (0) | 88 (7) | 13 (1) |
 It could cause interpretation problems due to the lack of non-verbal communication | 75 (9) | 0 (0) | 80 (6) | 25 (2) |
 Therapists might need to invest much time to read all the online assignments | 33 (4) | 42 (5) | 25 (2) | 63 (5) |
 Patients could misuse or overuse the online environment | 25 (3) | 58 (7) | 50 (4) | 50 (4) |
 Personally, I lack the Internet skills | 0 (0) | 67 (8) | 0 (0) | 88 (7) |