TY - JOUR
T1 - Satisfaction, Perceived Usefulness, and Therapeutic Alliance as Correlates of Participant Engagement in a Pediatric Digital Mental Health Intervention
T2 - Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study
AU - Huffman, Landry
AU - Lawrence-Sidebottom, Darian
AU - Huberty, Jennifer
AU - Beatty, Clare
AU - Roots, Monika
AU - Roots, Kurt
AU - Parikh, Amit
AU - Guerra, Rachael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 JMIR Formative Research. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Background: Although evidence suggests that digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are effective alternatives to traditional mental health care, participant engagement continues to be an issue, especially for pediatric DMHIs. Extant studies of DMHIs among adults suggest that participants' satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance are closely tied to engagement. However, these associations have not been investigated among children and adolescents involved in DMHIs. Objective: To address these gaps in extant DMHI research, the purpose of this study was to (1) develop and implement a measure to assess satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance among children and adolescents participating in a DMHI and (2) investigate satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance as correlates of children's and adolescents' engagement in the DMHI. Methods: Members (children and adolescents) of a pediatric DMHI who had completed at least one session with a care provider (eg, coach or therapist) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Adolescent members and caregivers of children completed a survey assessing satisfaction with service, perceived usefulness of care, and therapeutic alliance with care team members. Results: This study provides evidence for the reliability and validity of an adolescent- and caregiver-reported user experience assessment in a pediatric DMHI. Moreover, our findings suggest that adolescents' and caregivers' satisfaction and perceived usefulness are salient correlates of youths' engagement with a DMHI. Conclusions: This study provides valuable preliminary evidence that caregivers' satisfaction and perceived usefulness are salient correlates of youths' engagement with a DMHI. Although further research is required, these findings offer preliminary evidence that caregivers play a critical role in effectively increasing engagement among children and adolescents involved in DMHIs.
AB - Background: Although evidence suggests that digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are effective alternatives to traditional mental health care, participant engagement continues to be an issue, especially for pediatric DMHIs. Extant studies of DMHIs among adults suggest that participants' satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance are closely tied to engagement. However, these associations have not been investigated among children and adolescents involved in DMHIs. Objective: To address these gaps in extant DMHI research, the purpose of this study was to (1) develop and implement a measure to assess satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance among children and adolescents participating in a DMHI and (2) investigate satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and therapeutic alliance as correlates of children's and adolescents' engagement in the DMHI. Methods: Members (children and adolescents) of a pediatric DMHI who had completed at least one session with a care provider (eg, coach or therapist) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Adolescent members and caregivers of children completed a survey assessing satisfaction with service, perceived usefulness of care, and therapeutic alliance with care team members. Results: This study provides evidence for the reliability and validity of an adolescent- and caregiver-reported user experience assessment in a pediatric DMHI. Moreover, our findings suggest that adolescents' and caregivers' satisfaction and perceived usefulness are salient correlates of youths' engagement with a DMHI. Conclusions: This study provides valuable preliminary evidence that caregivers' satisfaction and perceived usefulness are salient correlates of youths' engagement with a DMHI. Although further research is required, these findings offer preliminary evidence that caregivers play a critical role in effectively increasing engagement among children and adolescents involved in DMHIs.
KW - adolescent
KW - child
KW - children
KW - coach
KW - coaching
KW - collaborative care
KW - digital mental health intervention
KW - engagement
KW - internet-based coaching
KW - internet-based therapy
KW - mental health
KW - patient-provider
KW - perceived usefulness
KW - satisfaction
KW - service satisfaction
KW - youth
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85173523478&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2196/49384
DO - 10.2196/49384
M3 - Article
C2 - 37672321
AN - SCOPUS:85173523478
SN - 2561-326X
VL - 7
JO - JMIR Formative Research
JF - JMIR Formative Research
IS - 1
M1 - e49384
ER -