Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Oct 3, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 6, 2018 - Oct 13, 2018
Date Accepted: Apr 21, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Mobile Phone Access and Preferences for Technology-Assisted Aftercare Among Low-Income Caregivers of Teens Enrolled in Outpatient Substance Use Treatment – A Predominantly Latina Sample
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mobile phone-based interventions have the potential to address unequal access to care for marginalized and difficult to reach populations. In fact, recent research suggests mobile phone-based interventions may help mitigate relapse rates among adolescent substance users. Given caregivers’ critical role in successful outcomes, mobile phone-based programs for caregivers during aftercare may be integral to treatment maintenance for teens.
Objective:
It remains unclear whether mobile phone-based support for caregivers of substance using teens is feasible or desired. Therefore, the present study seeks to determine the acceptability and feasibility of mobile phone-based support in a population of caregivers with teens in substance use treatment
Methods:
Upon enrollment in a treatment program, 103 caregivers completed a mobile phone use survey. Research assistants monitored clinic calls made to caregivers’ mobile phones to evaluate the reliability of phone service throughout treatment.
Results:
Most participants were mothers (79%) and self-identified as Latina/o (76%). The average age was 42.60 (SD = 9.28). Ninety-four percent of caregivers owned a mobile phone; and while most had pay-as-you-go phone service (67%), objective data suggests this did not impede accessibility. Older caregivers more frequently had a yearly mobile contract and fewer disconnections. Bilingual caregivers used text messaging less often; however, caregivers with male teens used text messaging more often and had fewer disconnections. Ninety-one percent of caregivers desired text-messaging aftercare support.
Conclusions:
Results suggest mobile phones are feasible and desired for use to deliver treatments that provide support to caregivers of teens discharged from substance use treatment. Consideration should be given to age of caregiver when designing these programs. Additional research is needed to better understand mobile phone use patterns based on a child’s gender and among bilingual caregivers.
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Copyright
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