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- Title
Evaluation of an automated matching system of children and families to virtual mental health resources during COVID-19.
- Authors
Lo, Ronda F; Schumacher, Anett; LaForge-Mackenzie, Kaitlyn; Cost, Katherine Tombeau; Crosbie, Jennifer; Charach, Alice; Anagnostou, Evdokia; Birken, Catherine S.; Monga, Suneeta; Korczak, Daphne J.
- Abstract
Background: Children and their families often face obstacles in accessing mental health (MH) services. The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test an electronic matching process to match children with virtual MH resources and increase access to treatment for children and their families during COVID-19. Methods: Within a large observational child cohort, a random sample of 292 families with children ages 6–12 years were invited to participate. Latent profile analysis indicated five MH profiles using parent-reported symptom scores from validated depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and inattention measures: (1) Average Symptoms, (2) Low Symptoms, (3) High Symptoms, (4) Internalizing, and (5) Externalizing. Children were matched with virtual MH resources according to their profile; parents received surveys at Time 1 (matching process explanation), Time 2 (match delivery) and Time 3 (resource uptake). Data on demographics, parent MH history, and process interest were collected. Results: 128/292 families (44%) completed surveys at Time 1, 80/128 families (63%) at Time 2, and a final 67/80 families (84%) at Time 3, yielding an overall uptake of 67/292 (23%). Families of European-descent and those with children assigned to the Low Symptoms profile were most likely to express interest in the process. No other factors were associated with continued interest or uptake of the electronic matching process. Most participating parents were satisfied with the process. Conclusions: The electronic matching process delivered virtual MH resources to families in a time-efficient manner. Further research examining the effectiveness of electronically matched resources in improving children's MH symptoms is needed.
- Subjects
HYPERKINESIA; HEALTH services accessibility; SCIENTIFIC observation; CONFIDENCE intervals; MENTAL health; FAMILIES; COMPARATIVE studies; AUTOMATION; INFORMATION resources; MENTAL depression; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; STATISTICAL sampling; ANXIETY; ODDS ratio; COVID-19 pandemic; LATENT structure analysis
- Publication
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Mental Health, 2024, Vol 18, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1753-2000
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13034-024-00716-0