(PS5-D83) Use of a Community-based Participatory Research Approach to Develop an Internet-based Consultation and Networking Platform (i-CAN) for Increasing Use of CBT Among Youth Mental Health Providers

There currently exists a gap in providing evidence-based interventions (EBI) within community mental health care. Research suggests information and education alone do not have lasting impact on provider behavior. We propose that use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth anxiety can be enhanced through a new resource, the Internet-Based Consultation and Networking (i-CAN) platform, which was developed to facilitate provider support and consultation among mental health providers (i.e., opportunities for continued skill development, experiential training, implementation support, troubleshooting problems, and learning from successful delivery). i-CAN was developed via engagement with a participatory workgroup of community providers, consists of a conceptual model based in the theory of planned behavior (TPB), utilizes an adapted peer-navigator approach, and leverages commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. The TPB suggests a provider’s behavioral beliefs (i.e., attitudes, expectations), normative beliefs, and control beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy) contribute to their intentions to use CBT. i-CAN aims to improve facilitative beliefs by increasing knowledge, skill, confidence, understanding other providers’ use of CBT, and their own ability to use CBT. A peer navigator approach, used initially to facilitate access to care among African-American women with breast cancer, was adapted for the provider-level, where key strategies of the approach (i.e., consultation, sharing resources) is applied by peer-providers. Further, i-CAN bridges research to practice by leveraging readily available COTS (i.e., Slack, Github), which are easily customizable to fit the ever-evolving research base, and reduce technological barriers to future replicability and scalability.

Researchers engaged a participatory workgroup that consisted of community mental health providers (N=11), the targeted end-users, in the development of i-CAN to improve satisfaction and implementation success. Providers were recruited across disciplines (i.e., social work, counseling, school psychology), and practice experiences (i.e., schools, private practice, community agencies). Participants met for 3 interactive workshops across a 10-week period, and contributed the format, content, and user interface of the platform. An iterative process was utilized to refine i-CAN, integrating input from workgroup members (i.e., technological considerations, content, design, ease of use) within real-time throughout their interaction with a beta version of i-CAN across 6 weeks. The workgroup advised researchers on the development of the primary outcome measure (Reasoned Action Questionnaire) to be used in the subsequent trial of i-CAN. The workgroup had the unique opportunity to serve as champions of i-CAN within the community, and encouraged providers within their own networks to engage in the initial trial.

 This poster will outline the integration of existing theory, innovative methods, and key takeaways from a community-engaged participatory approach to the development of i-CAN, with the intention to inform large-scale implementation efforts (i.e., statewide programs) focused on improving EBI delivery within community care.