The effect of caregiver opinion leaders to increase demand for evidence-based practices for youth anxiety: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dissemination initiatives have the potential to increase consumer knowledge of and engagement with evidence-based treatments (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]). Opinion leaders (OLs) have been used in public health campaigns, but have not been examined for the dissemination of mental health treatments. This study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to test the dissemination strategy of involving an OL in an educational presentation to increase caregiver demand for CBT for youth anxiety.

Method

Participants (N = 262; 92% female; 69% White, 82% non-Hispanic) were caregivers who registered for a virtual presentation on youth anxiety treatment through their child's school. Schools within 1.5-hr drive of Philadelphia, PA were cluster-randomized (k 

SUBMITTER: Crane ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11770744 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature