In this project, the investigators aim to test the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) system as a standalone versus coach-assisted intervention with the goal of achieving reach and scalability. Parents of children (ages 5-8) with disruptive behaviors (N = 324 subjects) will be randomly assigned to Group 1 (standalone app), Group 2 (coach-assisted app), or Group 3 (control app).
In this project, the investigators aim to test the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) system as a standalone versus coach-assisted intervention with the goal of achieving reach and scalability. Aim 1 is to evaluate the effectiveness of the UseIt! mHealth system as both a standalone and coach-assisted intervention compared to a control app condition. Aim 2 is to assess target (parent management training/cognitive behavioral therapy skill acquisition and use) engagement and validation. Aim 3 is to evaluate the effectiveness of the components of the UseIt! mHealth system. The investigators plan to recruit an anticipated total of 324 families for the study. Families will be randomly assigned to Group 1 (standalone app), Group 2 (coach-assisted), or Group 3 (control app condition). Parents will use the app for four months before the administration of the post-treatment assessment. Parents will be trained to use the UseIt! mHealth system over the phone. The coach for the Group 2 condition will be a bachelor's level paraprofessional with a degree in psychology or an allied discipline (e.g., social work) who will provide support to parents. The system is very user friendly and families can be trained in approximately 30 minutes. Assessments will take place at Baseline, Post (4 months from baseline), and 6-month follow-up. All assessments will be conducted online (Qualtrics survey links sent via email by research staff) and take approximately 1 hour to complete.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
324
The UseIt! app is a parenting app with evidence-based parent management content. The app runs on both Android and iOS devices. It includes a digital library of parent management skills, a trouble-shooting guide, a behavior diary, a point counter, and a skills-alarm.
The coach is be a bachelor's level paraprofessional with a degree in psychology or an allied discipline (e.g., social work) who provides support to parents. The coach will provide motivation and accountability but will not provide therapeutic/clinical support. The primary goal of the coach is to increase participant engagement with the UseIt! mHealth system.
The control app is a mindfulness app called SmilingMind. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.
Bellefield Towers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGKnowledge of Effective Parenting Test (KEPT)
Average scores from the Knowledge of Effective Parenting Test (KEPT). This is a 21-item scale, with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Time frame: Post assessment (4 months after baseline).
Knowledge of Effective Parenting Test (KEPT)
Average scores from the Knowledge of Effective Parenting Test (KEPT). This is a 21-item scale, with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up (10 months after baseline).
Parenting Skill Use Diary (PSUD)
Average scores from the Parenting Skill Use Diary (PSUD). This is a proportion score (range 0 to 1), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Time frame: Post assessment (4 months after baseline).
Parenting Skill Use Diary (PSUD)
Average scores from the Parenting Skill Use Diary (PSUD). This is a proportion score (range 0 to 1), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up (10 months after baseline).
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment
Average scores from the Oppositional Defiant Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: Post assessment (4 months after baseline).
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment
Average scores from the Oppositional Defiant Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up (10 months after baseline).
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Conduct Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment
Average scores from the Conduct Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: Post assessment (4 months after baseline).
Conduct Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment
Average scores from the Conduct Disorder Subscale of the Vanderbilt Assessment. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
Time frame: 6-month follow-up (10 months after baseline).