Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Outcomes

NCT02320903 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 1R43MH097349-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 88
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Child Behavior Disorders

Keywords

Criminal Justice; Juvenile Delinquency

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (11)

• App Usage - Parent Set up / Modified an App-based Behavior Plan for the Teen

  Percent of parents who set up a behavior plan for teen using app features.

  up to 45-days

• App Usage - Set up and Allocated / Earned Points (Rewards) for Positive Teen Behavior

  How many parents/caregivers set up a reward system and redeemed at least some points for the teen.

  up to 45-days

• App Usage - Parent Set Geolocation Expectations for the Teen.

  Percentage of parent/caregivers who set either required or off-limits locations for their teens.

  up to 45-days

• App Usage - Viewed Notifications Regarding Behavioral Expectations Met/Not Met

  The percentage of participants who viewed notifications that the teen was or was not meeting a behavioral expectation. Both parents and teens had this capability.

  up to 45 days

• App Usage - Viewed Parent Coaching Videos

  The app included 5 brief video vignettes depicting an effective parenting technique.

  up to 45 days

• App Usage - View Progress Graph (Points Earned Over Time)

  Youth/teen points earned over time were depicted on a graph for each day of use. To view the graph, caregivers/parents and youth/teens had to click on an app button.

  up to 45 days

• App Satisfaction Rating - the App Was Helpful Today

  Parent/caregiver was prompted randomly 3 times each week to rate on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (completely agree), how helpful was the app to you today?

  up to 45 days

• App Satisfaction Rating - I Have Ways to Intervene With my Teen.

  Parent/caregiver was prompted randomly 3 times each week to rate on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (completely agree), the app gives me new ways of intervening with my teen.

  up to 45 days

• App Satisfaction Rating - Overall Satisfaction

  Parent/caregiver and teen was prompted randomly 3 times each week to rate on a scale of 1 (totally unsatisfied) to 7 (completely satisfied), overall, how satisfied are you with the app today?

  up to 45 days

• App Satisfaction Rating - Parent is Noticing and Rewarding Good Behavior

  Three times each week, at random, youth/teens were asked to rate on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), my parent is noticing and rewarding good behavior. All ratings were averaged across full period of app use.

  up to 45 days

• App Satisfaction - I Like Getting Prompts and Reminders

  Youth/teens in the study were prompted 3 times/week during period of app usage to rate, on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), "I like getting prompts and reminders from the app."

  up to 45 days

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment, Aggression Subscale

  Baseline and Post assessment (end of 45-day app use period)

• Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment, Depression Subscale

  Baseline and Post assessment (end of 45-day app use period)

• Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment, Rule-breaking Subscale

  Baseline and Post assessment (end of 45-day app use period)

• Loeber Parental Supervision Scale

  Baseline and Post assessment (end of 45-day app use period)

• Loeber Positive Parenting Scale

  Baseline and Post assessment (end of 45-day app use period)

Study Arms (1)

Use of VillageWhere App Prototype

EXPERIMENTAL

In this single-arm study design, all enrolled caregivers and teens will use the VillageWhere App Prototype that has been developed for this study. They are requested to use it as often as they would like throughout the duration of the trial. The app is designed to be used several times throughout each day.

Device: VillageWhere App

Interventions

VillageWhere App DEVICE

Use of VillageWhere App Prototype

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Teen: English speaking, between ages of 13 and 17, juvenile justice involvement and/or externalizing behavioral problems, currently in treatment and will remain in treatment for duration of trial
• Caregiver: English speaking, owns Android smart phone, currently in treatment with their teen and will remain in treatment for duration of trial

You may not qualify if:

• N/A

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Evidence-Based Practice Institute, Seattle, WA: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator
• Medical University of South Carolina: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Evidence-Based Practice Institute

Seattle, Washington, 98144, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Child Behavior Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Linda Dimeff, PhD
• Organization: Evidence-Based Practice Institute

grants@ebpi.org

206-455-7934

Study Officials

• Linda A. Dimeff, PhD

  Evidence-Based Practice Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Cindy M Schaeffer, PhD

  University of Maryland, Baltimore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2014
• First Posted: December 19, 2014
• Study Start: April 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2016
• Study Completion: March 1, 2016
• Last Updated: February 14, 2018
• Results First Posted: February 14, 2018

Record last verified: 2017-11

Locations

US (1)