Predictors of dropout, time spent on the program and client satisfaction in an internet-based, telephone-assisted CBT anxiety program among elementary school children in a population-based sample
: Kaajalaakso Katri, Luntamo Terhi, Korpilahti-Leino Tarja, Ristkari Terja, Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki Susanna, Sourander Andre
Publisher: Springer Nature
: 2025
: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
: European child & adolescent psychiatry
: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry
: 34
: 1
: 249
: 258
: 1018-8827
: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02486-8(external)
: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02486-8(external)
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/456792204(external)
: Correction to this article: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02580-x ; DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02580-x
Increasing evidence has shown that childhood anxiety can be effectively treated by Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT). Being able to predict why participants decide to drop out of such programs enables scarce resources to be used appropriately. The aim of this study was to report dropout predictors for a population-based ICBT intervention aimed at children with anxiety, together with the time they and their parents spent on the program and client satisfaction rates. The study focused on 234 Finnish children aged 10-13 who received an ICBT intervention, with telephone support, for anxiety symptoms, as a part of a randomized control trial. Their parents also had access to Internet-based material and participated in the weekly telephone calls with the coach. Possible drop out factors were explored and these included various family demographics, child and parent psychopathology and therapeutic alliance. Just under a fifth (23.9%) of the children dropped out of the intervention. The risk was higher if the child did not fulfill the criteria for any anxiety diagnosis or reported a poorer therapeutic alliance. Family demographics and the COVID-19 pandemic did not increase the risk. The families spent an average of 127 min on the webpage each week and an average of 32 min on the phone calls. The overall satisfaction with the program was 87% for the children and 95% for the parents. Both the children and the parents found the telephone calls helpful. These findings are important in clinical practice when assessing a family's eligibility for ICBT.
:
This research was supported by the the Research Council of Finland (decision number: 345546) and APEX consortium (Awareness, Prevention and Early Interventions, decision number: 303581). This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 101020767). Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital).
