This integrative review examines the growing prevalence of depression, a leading
cause of primary care visits in Canada, and the need for accessible treatment options such as
telemedicine. Despite substantial evidence supporting the widespread adoption of
telemedicine in primary care, including for treating depression, research on patient
experiences with telemedicine for depression remains limited. This integrative review aims to
explore patients' experiences of using telemedicine for the treatment of depression in primary
care to identify areas for enhancing the quality of care. The key findings reveal several
themes influencing patient experience: the therapeutic relationship, the environment of care
delivery, individualization of treatment approaches, accessibility of telemedicine, and the
level of knowledge patients possess regarding telemental health. The findings have
implications for primary care providers, including nurse practitioners (NPs), in optimizing the
delivery of telemedicine for depression. Limitations of this review include a restricted
number of studies that specifically focused on depression. Further investigation is needed to
gain a deeper understanding of patient experiences with telemedicine for depression
treatment.
