302337
Comparative effectiveness of an activation intervention for Latino parents raising children with mental health needs
Study Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention designed to teach Latino mothers activation skills as compared to a support-group control. Mothers were surveyed in-person at baseline, one and 3 months (n=150). Survey data are triangulated with audiotapes of parent-provider conversation and child clinical records. A difference-in-difference approach was used to model the intervention effect with a mixed effects regression, controlling for child, parent and group characteristics. Outcome measures include mother’s level of activation and child therapy attendance.
Principal Findings: Preliminary data indicate both groups experienced an increase in activation, but the increase was significant only in the intervention group (p<0.0000). At baseline, mothers’ activation was at a level characterized by a lack of confidence and knowledge to take action. At the end of the class, activation had increased to the threshold between the two upper levels: ‘Beginning to take action,’ and ‘Working to maintain behaviors over time.’
Conclusions: Activation skills are a promising strategy to improve child mental health service use, bridge cultural differences and reduce disparities with wide-ranging impacts on patient-centered mental health outcomes.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsDiversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe a parent activation curriculum designed to help Latino mothers get the mental health services they feel their children need
Describe the impact of a parent activation intervention on Latino mothers’ activation and child therapy attendance
Describe patient-centered mental health outcomes for children important to Latino mothers after participation in an activation intervention
Keyword(s): Latinos, Mental Health Treatment &Care
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator of several federally funded grants including two PCORI grants focusing on patient-centered outcomes in child mental health. I have published on access to care for children with mental health needs, and I am currently chair of the Mental Health Section of the American Public Health Association.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.