The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a smartphone-based data collection and feedback application ("Footsteps") improves the quality of behavioral data collected by one-to-one aides and leads to better youth mental health outcomes in school-aged youth (ages 4-17) who receive one-to-one support in schools. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the Footsteps app improve aides' data collection quality (i.e., consistency, timeliness, and completeness)? 2. Does Footsteps use lead to improved youth behavioral health outcomes (e.g., SDQ, YTP scores)? 3. Does Footsteps improve communication and supervision processes between aides and clinical supervisors? Researchers will compare aides using Footsteps to those using a "data collection only" control app to see if Footsteps leads to higher quality data collection, enhanced supervisory communication, and better youth outcomes. Participants will: * Use either Footsteps or a control app to record de-identified data on one client's behaviors and skills over 12 weeks * Complete biweekly online surveys about data collection experiences, youth progress, and aide-supervisor communication * Participate in a virtual intake and post-trial meeting * (For a subset) Participate in a 30-45 minute qualitative interview about their experience using the app
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
200
Behavioral economics features designed to increase motivation to collect data and ease of data collection on the electronic platform.
Electronic platform to collect data
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGStrengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total score
A behavioral screening tool used to assess psychological attributes in children and adolescents, leading to a total score of 0 to 40. A higher total score indicates greater difficulties in emotional and behavioral functioning, while lower scores suggest fewer difficulties.
Time frame: Assessed monthly (Baseline; Weeks 4, 8, and 12)
Data collection consistency
an aggregate of the numbers of intervals scheduled, and the numbers of those intervals in which data was entered (% real time data)
Time frame: Assessed throughout 12-week trial
Data collection timeliness
for intervals in which data was entered, the time lag between occurrence and data entry
Time frame: Assessed throughout 12-week trial
Data collection completeness
intervals classified as complete or incomplete according to whether the aide collected their planned metrics as required by their agency (% goals targeted)
Time frame: Assessed throughout 12-week trial
Youth Top Problems
Top problems identified during intake meeting. Severity of each problem is rated from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (a very big problem). Severity ratings can be tracked for each problem individually or as an overall mean severity score created by averaging ratings from the same informant at the same measurement occasion
Time frame: Assessed biweekly, at baseline through 12-week trial
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