Compliance of Social Work E-therapy Websites to the NASW Code of Ethics

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the compliance of e-therapy websites to the NASW Code of Ethics. The E-therapy Site Compliance Evaluation Form (ESCEF) was used to retrieve data from 66 e-therapy websites with social workers. This study utilized a mixed method using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A high level of compliance was found with the duty to inform and a low level of compliance was found with the duty to maintain professional boundaries. The duty to maintain confidentiality and procedures to be used in an emergency yielded mixed results, raising some concerns. Although a large percentage (59%) presented the procedures to be used in an emergency, only a third (32%) required giving information on local backups. Implications are discussed for social work practice, policy guidelines, research, and education.