ABSTRACT
Objective: We describe the clinical implementation in North America of Teen Online Problem Solving (TOPS), a 10+ session, evidence-based telehealth intervention providing training in problem-solving, emotion regulation, and communication skills. Methods: Twelve children's hospitals and three rehabilitation hospitals participated, agreeing to train a minimum of five therapists to deliver the program and to enroll two patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) per month. Barriers to reach and adoption were addressed during monthly calls, resulting in expansion of the program to other neurological conditions and extending training to speech therapists. Results: Over 26 months, 381 patients were enrolled (199 TBI, 182 other brain conditions), and 101 completed the program. A total of 307 therapists were trained, and 58 went on to deliver the program. Institutional, provider, and patient barriers and strategies to address them are discussed. Conclusions: The TOPS implementation process highlights the challenges of implementing complex pediatric neurorehabilitation programs while underscoring potential avenues for improving reach and adoption.
ABSTRACT
Adolescents with diabetes have a higher prevalence of depression compared with their peers. The American Diabetes Association recommends routine mental health screening for youth with diabetes. This screening is often conducted through accessible and free depression screeners, such as the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Although the PHQ-9 has been validated for use in adolescents and with other medical conditions, it has yet to be validated for use in pediatric diabetes. This study evaluated adolescents' depression symptom endorsement through retrospective review of PHQ-9 screening and semi-structured interviews with a mental health provider in a multidisciplinary diabetes clinic (patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes). Adolescent participants (n = 96) screened during one to three separate visits (n = 148) endorsed some depressive symptoms in 56% of visits (n = 84) and moderate to severe symptoms in 6% of visits on the PHQ-9. Approximately 95% of study participants did not meet the clinic cutoff for further evaluation, but greater rates of depression were endorsed in youth with type 1 diabetes. Low mood was endorsed at a higher rate during a semi-structured interview with embedded mental health providers than on the PHQ-9. Symptoms specific to low mood, including anhedonia, sleep disturbance, concentration disturbance, motor disturbance, and thoughts of death/self-harm, were more frequently endorsed on the PHQ-9 than during the interview. Although the PHQ-9 is a good screening tool, the availability of mental health providers in diabetes clinics is important to address specific endorsed symptoms and place them in perspective based on specialized training. Until more definitive research is available on the sensitivity and specificity of this measure in this population and setting, a two-part screening approach that includes both the screening questionnaire and a brief semi-structured interview is warranted.
