Evaluation of an automated matching system of children and families to virtual mental health resources during COVID-19

Ronda F Lo; Anett Schumacher; Kaitlyn LaForge-Mackenzie; Katherine Tombeau Cost; Jennifer Crosbie; Alice Charach; Evdokia Anagnostou; Catherine S Birken; Suneeta Monga; Daphne J Korczak

doi:10.1186/s13034-024-00716-0

Evaluation of an automated matching system of children and families to virtual mental health resources during COVID-19

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024 Feb 9;18(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13034-024-00716-0.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
² Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
³ Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Division of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. daphne.korczak@sickkids.ca.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. daphne.korczak@sickkids.ca.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Children and their families often face obstacles in accessing mental health (MH) services. The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test an electronic matching process to match children with virtual MH resources and increase access to treatment for children and their families during COVID-19.

Methods: Within a large observational child cohort, a random sample of 292 families with children ages 6-12 years were invited to participate. Latent profile analysis indicated five MH profiles using parent-reported symptom scores from validated depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and inattention measures: (1) Average Symptoms, (2) Low Symptoms, (3) High Symptoms, (4) Internalizing, and (5) Externalizing. Children were matched with virtual MH resources according to their profile; parents received surveys at Time 1 (matching process explanation), Time 2 (match delivery) and Time 3 (resource uptake). Data on demographics, parent MH history, and process interest were collected.

Results: 128/292 families (44%) completed surveys at Time 1, 80/128 families (63%) at Time 2, and a final 67/80 families (84%) at Time 3, yielding an overall uptake of 67/292 (23%). Families of European-descent and those with children assigned to the Low Symptoms profile were most likely to express interest in the process. No other factors were associated with continued interest or uptake of the electronic matching process. Most participating parents were satisfied with the process.

Conclusions: The electronic matching process delivered virtual MH resources to families in a time-efficient manner. Further research examining the effectiveness of electronically matched resources in improving children's MH symptoms is needed.

Keywords: Adolescent; Child; Mental health profiles; Resource matching.

Abstract

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