2 - (SYM 142) Initial Findings of Adapted Telemental Health Treatments for Hispanic/latinx Individuals Living in Rural Areas: Acceptability, Outcomes and Cost

Introduction: Provision of behavioral health care in the United States has long been subject to a range of systemic and structural factors impacting availability, access, and acceptability. Barriers to treatment are especially pronounced in rural settings and among marginalized populations adversely affected by social determinants of health, such as increased poverty or unemployment. Rural regions have historically reported a severe shortage of mental health professionals. Moreover, there is a well-documented disparity in mental health service availability for Hispanic/Latinx populations who need Spanish-speaking providers. Aligning services to be culturally and linguistically appropriate is a critical step in the provision of effective interventions. In this paper we present data on an ongoing study examining acceptability, outcomes, and cost of TeleFuturo: an integrated hybrid program of technology-based visits and in-person services, to meet the needs of urban, suburban, and rural Hispanic/Latinx patients in North Carolina.

Method: Participants are 750 individuals (56% female; mean age 46) who presented to a community based mental health treatment center that provides bilingual and culturally informed behavioral health treatment for underserved Spanish-speaking individuals and families between 2020 and 2023. Participants received hybrid or targeted TeleFuturo which involved adapted evidence-based approaches. Assessment and treatment materials were available both Spanish and English. 

Results. Initial findings indicate a large percentage of participants show clinically significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Data related to fidelity, patient and provider acceptability will also be presented. Finally, as part of our cost analysis, we will present general costs for implementation of TeleFuturo and their current and potential revenues for services for under resourced community-based organizations. 

Conclusions: Findings are discussed in terms of efficacy of these approaches for reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD at clinically significant levels. Findings also are discussed in terms of increasing access to minoritized individuals in rural areas to quality behavioral interventions and the collateral benefits of increasing provider capacity to ensure more culturally responsive interventions are delivered with the potential for revenue streams for under resourced community-based organizations.