113 - The effect of brief interventions on parents’ preparedness to prevent behavioral and mental health problems

Publication Number: 1104.113

Ankita Chatterjee, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States; Sarah Dulaney, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States; Ellen L. McMahon, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, United States; Meng Xu, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Brentwood, TN, United States; Seth Scholer, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States

Background: Approximately 20% of U.S. children experience behavioral or mental health problems, and unhealthy disciplinary strategies increase risk. It is unknown whether brief interventions can prepare parents to prevent these outcomes.

Objective: To determine whether a brief intervention increases parents’ preparedness to prevent behavioral and mental health problems.

Design/Methods: 210 parents of children aged 9–36-months presenting for a well-child visit were invited to participate in a randomized controlled trial with three groups: (1) Online Behavior Group: information on an evidence-based online resource on healthy discipline strategies and a one-page educational handout; (2) Handbook Behavior Group: same materials Group 1, along with a printed handbook; and (3) Dental Control Group: handout on cavity prevention. Interventions occurred immediately before the clinic visit and lasted approximately 2 minutes. 186 parents (88.5%) completed a survey after the clinic visit. The primary outcome was whether parents felt more prepared to prevent behavioral and mental problems. The secondary outcome was planned family discussions to prevent behavior problems.

Results: Most parents were female (86%), never married (54.2%), and high school educated (60.4%). No differences were found between the two behavioral groups so results for these groups were combined. Compared with the control group, parents in the behavior groups were more likely to report increased preparedness to prevent behavioral problems (50.4% vs 12.7%, p< 0.001) and mental health problems (17.9% vs 6.3%, p = 0.03). Parents in the behavioral groups were also more likely to plan family discussions about preventing behavioral problems (48.8% vs 9.5%, p< 0.001) and mental health problems (19.5% vs 6.3%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion(s): Brief interventions can increase parents’ preparedness and plans for family discussions to prevent behavioral and mental health problems. Findings support longitudinal studies of brief interventions to improve behavioral health. Additionally, findings have implications for how to prompt family discussions about behavioral health.