JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

There is a need to develop cost-effective, efficient, and scalable methods of training mental health clinicians in evidence-based treatments (EBT).

Objective:

Objective:

The current study compared two forms of online training of Family-based Treatment (FBT) –an EBT for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods:

Methods:

Participants were 123 therapists licensed in the US in private practice with no previous FBT training. Therapists were randomized to either 1) a webinar training lecture series (WT) or, 2) an interactive e-training on-demand program (ET-FBT) with additional focus on key FBT interventions. Both groups received up to 12 one-hour group-based clinical case consultation (CCC) sessions post-training. We examined feasibility and acceptability of the online training programs and post-training outcomes in fidelity to key components of FBT, self-efficacy, and working alliance. We explored rates of early response (weight gain of 2.4 kg at session 4) of adolescent AN patients treated after FBT training during CCC.

Results:

Results:

Both online trainings had a high completion rate 117/123 (95%), with CCC completion at 47/123 (38%). Both programs showed within-group improvements in fidelity, self-efficacy, and working alliance associated with large effect sizes. Early response rates doubled post-training and CCC (from 16% to 34%), regardless of randomized training format.

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

It is feasible to deliver online training in FBT to clinicians in private practice in two different formats and improve fidelity, self-efficacy, working alliance, and patient outcomes. Future studies should address challenges in patient recruitment for CCC and refine CCC implementation to maximize training effects and efficiency. Clinical Trial: Trial registration: NCT04428580 (study registration first posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 06/11/2020; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04428580?term=NCT04428580&rank=1)