Technology-Based Tools to Enhance Quality of Care in Mental Health Treatment
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 8 - 15 |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | November 2013 |
| End Date: | November 2015 |
Nearly 9 million U.S. children (1 in 8) meet criteria for at least one mental health
disorder at any point in time. Effective treatments exist for these disorders, but children
and families who seek services rarely receive them; mental health providers need more
support in the delivery of these interventions to ensure that children and families are
receiving the best quality care. This project aims to improve the delivery of best practices
for families who seek mental health care by developing creative, technology-based resources
for providers. Once we have completed development of the tablet-based resources, we will
conduct a small randomized study with 20 families to examine the feasibility and prepare for
a large study to test the effectiveness of the resources.
disorder at any point in time. Effective treatments exist for these disorders, but children
and families who seek services rarely receive them; mental health providers need more
support in the delivery of these interventions to ensure that children and families are
receiving the best quality care. This project aims to improve the delivery of best practices
for families who seek mental health care by developing creative, technology-based resources
for providers. Once we have completed development of the tablet-based resources, we will
conduct a small randomized study with 20 families to examine the feasibility and prepare for
a large study to test the effectiveness of the resources.
Efficacious treatments exist for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, but these treatments
rarely are delivered with high fidelity in mental health service settings. Research is
needed to ensure that these treatments become more accessible in day-to-day clinical care.
Innovative, low-cost approaches are essential, particularly in settings where resources are
limited. Technological advances have made possible the development of low-cost and highly
efficient (i.e., minimal time burden to providers) resources that can be delivered via
internet, tablets, Smartphone, and other technologies to improve quality of care. Research
is needed to inform these efforts and evaluate the feasibility and utility of this approach.
Widespread availability of technology-based resources may represent an important step toward
making evidence-based treatment more accessible to children and adults if research supports
their utility. Our research team has led the development and evaluation of several e-health
and e-learning tools for patients and providers. This has positioned us well to develop and
rigorously evaluate a technology-based toolkit to enhance providers' delivery of
evidence-based treatment. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an
empirically supported treatment for children with posttraumatic stress reactions, is widely
used by community providers and is ideal for testing the use of technology-based resources
because the protocol addresses multiple symptom domains as well as both children and
caregivers. We propose to develop and examine the feasibility of a technology-based toolkit
for TF-CBT (e-TFCBT) that is designed to enhance the quality, accessibility, and efficacy of
treatment. The toolkit will consist of web-based applications that are optimized for use on
mobile devices. We conducted an interview of 21 nationally certified trainers in TF-CBT to
guide an initial list of resources that are intended to address known problems with fidelity
and engagement. Providers will use most of these resources in session to maximize fidelity
and enhance child engagement and learning. The resources will be alpha-tested with families
and providers and then beta-tested with providers; qualitative data will be used to guide
refinements to the toolkit. We will then conduct a feasibility trial with 20 families.
Results will provide valuable preliminary data in preparation for a randomized controlled
trial to examine the additive benefits of web-accessible resources that assist providers in
high-fidelity delivery of evidence-based care.
rarely are delivered with high fidelity in mental health service settings. Research is
needed to ensure that these treatments become more accessible in day-to-day clinical care.
Innovative, low-cost approaches are essential, particularly in settings where resources are
limited. Technological advances have made possible the development of low-cost and highly
efficient (i.e., minimal time burden to providers) resources that can be delivered via
internet, tablets, Smartphone, and other technologies to improve quality of care. Research
is needed to inform these efforts and evaluate the feasibility and utility of this approach.
Widespread availability of technology-based resources may represent an important step toward
making evidence-based treatment more accessible to children and adults if research supports
their utility. Our research team has led the development and evaluation of several e-health
and e-learning tools for patients and providers. This has positioned us well to develop and
rigorously evaluate a technology-based toolkit to enhance providers' delivery of
evidence-based treatment. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an
empirically supported treatment for children with posttraumatic stress reactions, is widely
used by community providers and is ideal for testing the use of technology-based resources
because the protocol addresses multiple symptom domains as well as both children and
caregivers. We propose to develop and examine the feasibility of a technology-based toolkit
for TF-CBT (e-TFCBT) that is designed to enhance the quality, accessibility, and efficacy of
treatment. The toolkit will consist of web-based applications that are optimized for use on
mobile devices. We conducted an interview of 21 nationally certified trainers in TF-CBT to
guide an initial list of resources that are intended to address known problems with fidelity
and engagement. Providers will use most of these resources in session to maximize fidelity
and enhance child engagement and learning. The resources will be alpha-tested with families
and providers and then beta-tested with providers; qualitative data will be used to guide
refinements to the toolkit. We will then conduct a feasibility trial with 20 families.
Results will provide valuable preliminary data in preparation for a randomized controlled
trial to examine the additive benefits of web-accessible resources that assist providers in
high-fidelity delivery of evidence-based care.
Inclusion Criteria:
- victim of at least one potentially traumatic event (e.g. sexual/physical assault,
witnessed violence, disaster, serious accident)
- have at least one symptom on each PTSD symptom cluster (re-experiencing, avoidance,
hyperarousal)
Exclusion Criteria:
- exhibits psychotic symptoms (active hallucinations, delusions, impaired thought
processes) by caregiver or child
- significant cognitive disabilities, developmental delays, or pervasive developmental
disorder
- active suicidal or homicidal ideations
- no consistent caregiver available to participate
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