Pilot Study of the Engaging Families Smartphone App to Support Caregiver Home Practice in a Family-Based Prevention Program

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the Engaging Families home practice smartphone application as an addition to a family-based prevention program called Bridges. The study focuses on supporting caregivers in practicing intervention skills at home to help prevent youth substance use and mental illness while promoting positive family and youth outcomes. Researchers are interested in how acceptable and feasible the app is for daily home use and whether it improves caregivers practice of intervention skills compared to a control app. Participants who are caregivers enrolled in the Bridges program will be assigned to either receive the Engaging Families home practice app or an active control app called Cozi Family Organizer, which assists with family scheduling and organization. The intervention period lasts up to eight weeks, during which the use and impact of these apps on home practice are monitored. Some participants may take part in post-intervention interviews to further assess the apps acceptability and feasibility. During the study, caregivers will complete surveys approximately 2 to 3 months after starting the intervention to measure acceptability and feasibility, as well as report on home practice of skills at three points during the intervention. The study involves caregivers of children aged 11 to 17 years and includes assessments in English or Spanish. Participation requires owning and regularly using a smartphone. The total study duration includes the intervention period and follow-up assessments to understand how well the apps support home practice of prevention skills.

Digital Support Strategies for Caregiver Home Practice