TOPIC SELECTION: FIND A GAP 1
Topic Selection: Find a Gap
School of Behavioral Health Sciences, Liberty University
Topic Selection: Find a Gap
1) First Topic of Interest:
How could telehealth services be improved to reduce drop-out rates among clients and
increase retention rates?
Gap Statement: According to Bower et al. (2022),
“In the current study, there were no data available on the type/quality of electronic device used
to access telehealth appointments or precarity in the mobile phone access and digital
connectivity, which may also have been a barrier to treatment adherence. Future research
TOPIC SELECTION: FIND A GAP 2
should examine this in a more nuanced way, exploring potential impact on no-show rates and
retention” (p.5).
Reference
Bower, M., Olsen, N., Peach, N., Green, O., Duarte, C., Valpiani, P., & Teesson, M. (2023). Feasibility of
telehealth counselling pilot for people experiencing homelessness and/or complex needs:
During COVID 19 and beyond. ‐Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 34(4), 889–894.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.717
The aim of this study was to see if telehealth services would be beneficial for individuals
experiencing homelessness or other complex needs. Their results found that it may be a feasible
replacement; however, further investigation regarding client retention needs to be performed.
2) Second Topic of Interest:
Does epidural anglesia put mothers at an increased risk for postpartum depression?
Gap Statement: “Although individual studies have demonstrated a significant
correlation between epidural analgesia and PPD, we included only two analysis
articles.
The sample size is relatively small, and the overall correlation is not enormously
significant. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the correlation between
epidural anaesthesia and PPD (Liu et al., 2021, p.11).
Reference
Liu, X., Wang, S., & Wang, G. (2022). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in
Women: A Systematic Review and Meta analysis. ‐Journal of Clinical Nursing (John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.), 31(19/20), 2665–2677. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16121
TOPIC SELECTION: FIND A GAP 3
This article explored the risk factors and prevelance of postpartum depression among women. It
found that the prevelance of postpartum depression is high, with there being many different
risk factors such as depression, gestational diabetes, giving birth to males, and more.
Third Topic of Interest:
How do church-based counseling models differ from one another and which are most
effective at reaching congregation members?
Gap Statement: “Further research is needed to continue to enhance our understanding of
evangelical Protestant help-seeking attitudes, views about mental illness, and engagement with
professional counseling. In addition to replicating the quantitative survey from this study within
other denominations and regions, more research is needed on church-based counseling
models”
(Kansiewicz et al., 2021, p.77).
Reference
Kansiewicz, K. M., & Smith, C. M. (2021). Implicit and Explicit Impacts of a Church-Based
Counseling Program: A Mixed Method Study. Journal of Psychology and
Christianity, 40(1), 67-77.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/
scholarlyjournals/implicit-explicit-impacts-church-based-counseling/docview/
2644086630/se-2
This article talks about a church-based counseling model known as Church therapy, and
evaluated the success of this program as well as client’s views on professional counseling and
mental illness. Their findings highlighted the impact that the congregation’s culture can have on
individuals view of mental illness and counseling.
