Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Margaret E. Crane, M.A.
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gillian C. Dysart, None
Student
Temple University
Yardley, Pennsylvania
Sydney Keller, BA
Research Assistant
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Olivia Bauer, BA
Research Assistant
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sirina Tiwari
Research Assistant
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jonathan Purtle, DrPH, MSc
Associate Professor
New York University
New York, New York
Marc Atkins, PhD
Professor
University of Illinois, Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Sara J Becker, PhD
Associate Professor
Brown University School of Public health
Providence, Rhode Island
John Lestino, MA LPC
School Psychologist
Magowan Elementary School
Beverly, New Jersey
Philip C. Kendall, ABPP, ABPP, Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor
Temple University
ARDMORE, PA
Background: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for youth anxiety. Despite implementation efforts, most anxious youth do not receive CBT. Direct-to-consumer marketing offers a different approach to inform consumers of effective treatment options. Direct-to-consumer initiatives are important because many caregivers lack the knowledge of how to seek the most effective treatment for their child. Involving a local key opinion leader may be an effective strategy to increase caregiver demand for CBT for youth anxiety. Research suggests that key opinion leaders improve public health campaigns, however, this strategy has not been examined in the context of dissemination of mental health treatments.
Method: Project CHAT (Caregivers Hearing about Anxiety Treatments) tests the role of involving a local key opinion leader caregiver in presenting an educational presentation on youth anxiety and how to seek treatment. Caregiver attendees (projected N by November 2022 = 180; N at time of submission = 91) will be cluster-randomized by school to either the key opinion leader condition or the researcher only condition. In both conditions, attendees will receive a community outreach presentation that reviews signs of youth anxiety, strategies caregivers can use to help their youth with anxiety, and how to find a therapist who does CBT for youth anxiety. In the researcher-only condition, the presentation will be presented by two researchers. In the key opinion leader condition, a caregiver from each local school will be involved in tailoring the presentation content to their community, co-facilitating the presentation, and endorsing strategies in the presentation. The study uses the theory of planned behavior to evaluate changes following the presentation in participants’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, subjective norms related to, and intention to seek CBT for youth anxiety. At 3-month follow-up, participants indicate whether they sought CBT for youth anxiety. Results will be analyzed using multilevel models and logistic regressions.
Discussion: This study is the first to examine the use of key opinion leaders to increase caregiver demand for CBT. If effective, future dissemination efforts can incorporate local key opinion leaders to increase the reach of evidence-based treatments.