Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Outcomes

Overview

The goal of the current trial is to assess the feasibility of a newly developed prototype of a cell phone app called VillageWhere. VillageWhere is designed to improve clinical outcomes of youth with externalizing behavioral problems by improving parental monitoring of youth whereabouts and activities while increasing the delivery of rewards to teens for good behavior. This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal seeks to develop and conduct initial feasibility testing of the VillageWhere prototype. The primary features of the prototype include location monitoring via smartphones' global positioning system (GPS) functionality as well as facilitating teen self-appraisal of meeting behavioral expectations. Good behavior is rewarded with points that are tracked by the app and can be used to redeem for real-world rewards. The investigators will conduct an 45-day open trial (N=20 caregiver/teen dyads) to assess use, feasibility and acceptability for teens involved in the juvenile justice system or otherwise struggling with externalizing behavioral problems. Caregivers and teens will be assessed at baseline, before receiving the app, and at the end of the app use period (45 days). The therapist of each caregiver/teen dyad will also be assessed at the end of the app use period. Primary outcomes include: use of app features, monitoring of teen behavior and whereabouts, delivery of real-world rewards, and feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes include: parenting behaviors, externalizing teen behaviors and internalizing teen behaviors.

VillageWhere was pilot tested with a sample of 16 youth and their primary caregiver participating in an EST for a serious conduct problem (Mean age 14.6 years, 52% male, 56% African American, 33% were previously arrested). After completing baseline self-report measures, dyads used the app as desired for 4 weeks, then participated in a post-assessment and qualitative interviews. App usage by both parents and youth was high with little diminished use over the four weeks of the trial. All parents set and used reinforcers for functional behavior and used the "find my teen" feature; 84% set geolocation expectations for youth's whereabouts at specific times; and 88% set other expectations for the youth (e.g., finish homework), viewed notifications, and regularly used the "Find My Teen" feature. As expected, parents interacted with the app frequently: 2.4 times per day. Youth used the app on average four times per day. All youth earned and redeemed points for complying with their parent's expectations and routinely viewed their behavior plans (93.3%) and feedback notification messages (86.7%). Parents did not on average use coaching videos (20%). Although the study was not powered to detect statistical significance, a series of paired t-tests were conducted to examine pre- to post-changes on self-report measures. Changes for parents and youth all were in predicted directions, with effect sizes ranging from small to high (average d = .42, range .21-.80). Parents reported greater use of positive parenting behaviors (i.e., rewards and praise), greater discipline consistency, lower overall perceived stress, a higher feeling of influence over youth behavior, and greater parenting efficacy. Youth reported increases in parent use of positive behaviors, consistency, and knowledge of whereabouts. Parent- and youth-reported change in youth aggression and rule-breaking (as measured by the CBCL/YSR). Qualitative results were also positive. Using 7-point scales, parents and youth reported on app satisfaction three times/week. Parent ratings were high (M = 6.0) across items (e.g., "The app was helpful today," "I have ways to intervene with my teen"). Youth satisfaction scores were also high (M = 6.1; e.g., "My parent is noticing \& rewarding my good behavior;" "I liked getting app prompts \& reminders"). Parents reported that the app helped them trust their youth, increase their use of rewards, and made giving rewards easier; they also reported a reduction in youths' "excuse-making." Youth perceived that the app allowed them more freedom, because parents had an objective way of verifying their whereabouts. Nearly all youth (89%) liked that their parent was more consistent in paying attention to their positive behaviors and rewarding them for it (versus only being punitive). Both parents and youth described significant improvements in their relationship. In addition, 16 therapists working with the parent-youth dyads also gave qualitative feedback that was highly positive. Therapists stated that they liked the extra accountability the app afforded to teens and the reduction in parent-youth communication issues.