Patient-reported feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction of psychological telehealth orofacial pain interventions: a mixed-methods study

Objective Physical Self-Regulation (PSR) is a brief psychological intervention with demonstrated efficacy for use with orofacial pain populations, but it is unclear whether patients find PSR feasible when delivered via telehealth. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction of PSR via telehealth among treatment-seeking adults with chronic orofacial pain. Study Design A convergent mixed-methods design was used. Twenty-eight treatment-seeking adults were recruited from a university-affiliated orofacial pain clinic and received three telehealth-delivered PSR sessions. Twenty-two completed all three sessions and eighteen also completed qualitative interviews. Measures of feasibility (Treatment Evaluation Questionnaire) and acceptability/adherence (Treatment Acceptability and Adherence Scale) were completed after sessions 1 and 2. Satisfaction (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire) was completed after session 3. Interviews explored participant’s experiences and were analyzed using content analysis. Results Participants reported high perceived feasibility and acceptability/adherence at all timepoints. Perceived feasibility improved from PSR session 1 to session 2 (P = .0 22). Following session 3, participants reported high satisfaction (M=3.59/4.00). Qualitative findings identified five themes: initial skepticism followed by optimism, improved functioning, convenience, low prior awareness of PSR, and feelings of empowerment. Conclusions Telehealth-delivered PSR was perceived as feasible, acceptable, and satisfying, supporting PSR’s potential as an implementable and scalable adjuvant telehealth therapy.