Objective: The authors evaluated Project TEACH (PT), a statewide training and consultation program for pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) on identification and treatment of mental health conditions.
Methods: An intervention group of 176 PCPs who volunteered for PT training was compared with a stratified random sample of 200 PCPs who did not receive PT training. Data on prescription practices, diagnoses, and follow-up care were from New York State Medicaid files (2009-2013) for youths seen by the trained (N=21,784) and untrained (N=46,607) PCPs.
Results: The percentage of children prescribed psychotropic medication increased after PT training (9% to 12%, p<.001), a larger increase than in the untrained group (4% to 5%, p<.001) (comparison, p<.001). Fewer differences were noted in diagnoses and in medication use and follow-up care among children with depression.
Conclusions: This intervention may have an impact on providers' behaviors, but further research is needed to clarify its effectiveness.