Teen Helpline Motivational Interviewing Study
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age13+
SponsorSan Diego State University
About this trial
The proposed study will establish a foundation for research within peer-delivered helplines for teens. It aims to evaluate the impact of a Motivational Interviewing training at peer-to-peer helpline. The study will leverage emerging technologies to surmount the challenges of providing tailored training to a large and diverse mental health workforce at scale.
Aim 1: Adapt Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies for use in a teen peer-delivered text-based digital helpline.
Aim 2: Co-design performance feedback (PF) and facilitated practice (FP) processes to support MI adherence among peer helpers.
Aim 3: Examine feasibility, acceptability, and initial outcomes in a pilot feasibility trial. Peer helpers (N=50) will be randomized to receive MI training or MI training + PF-FP.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Current helpline peer helpers
Aged 14-19 years.
Provides assent and documented parental consent (when applicable).
Completes study measures prior to the first Motivational Interviewing (MI) training session.
Disqualifiers
Identified as currently experiencing acute suicide risk (i.e., assigned a "high-risk" flag by the helpline algorithm or identified as high risk by helpline staff).
Requires immediate crisis intervention or emergency services that could be disrupted by participation in the research study.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Motivational Interviewing Training
Other interventionAll participants will receive Motivational Interviewing training through an educational workshop. Participants in the intervention arm will receive performance feedback and facilitated practice (implementation strategy). Those in the control arm will receive training as usual.
Treatment groups
206 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Performance feedback and facilitated practiceExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Training as usualNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
General Help Seeking Questionnaire
Measure of help seeking behavior. Minimum score = 10; Maximum score = 70. Higher scores indicate greater intentions or willingness to seek help.
Time frame
11 months (consent to post 6-month follow up)2
Patient Health Questionnaire-8
Measure helpline user distress. Minimum score = 0; Maximum score = 24. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity.
Time frame
11 months (consent to post 6-month follow up)Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
San Diego State University
Lead sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov