T.E.C.H. Parenting for Substance Abuse

Overseen By Shimei Nelapati, MS

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to help parents reduce the risk of substance use in their children by teaching them to manage media exposure at home. It compares two approaches: T.E.C.H. Parenting, which focuses on discussing media content and setting rules, and General Positive Parenting, which offers broader parenting support. Parents with at least one middle school-aged child who can read English and have internet access are a good fit. Participants will engage in online discussions and receive tips to practice new skills over six weeks. As an unphased trial, this study provides parents a unique opportunity to learn effective strategies for guiding their children's media use.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that these parenting interventions are safe for families?

Research has shown that technology-assisted parenting programs, like T.E.C.H. Parenting, are generally safe for participants. Studies have found that these programs, which use online tools to assist parents, often lead to positive outcomes for both parents and children without major safety issues.

One review found that technology-based programs aimed at reducing youth substance use were well-received, with no reports of serious side effects. Another study on a similar technology-assisted parenting program showed improvements in teen outcomes, indicating that parents found the support helpful and safe.

Overall, while specific safety data for the T.E.C.H. Parenting program is not available, technology in parenting programs has been shown to be a safe and effective way to support families. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the T.E.C.H. Parenting approach for addressing substance abuse in families because it introduces a novel focus on media parenting. Unlike traditional parenting programs that may not address the influence of media, T.E.C.H. Parenting actively educates parents on how to talk about, manage, and co-use media with their children. This approach includes a structured online setting with interactive group discussions and expert support, making it both accessible and engaging for parents. By integrating modern technology and communication strategies, T.E.C.H. Parenting aims to equip parents with practical skills that align with today's digital world, potentially enhancing its effectiveness compared to conventional methods.

What evidence suggests that this trial's parenting interventions could be effective for reducing youth risk for substance use?

Research has shown that technology-assisted parenting can reduce substance use in teenagers. Studies have found that parents participating in online parenting programs observed positive changes in their children's behavior, including fewer days of drinking and fewer school problems. In this trial, the T.E.C.H. Parenting method, one of the study arms, encourages parents to engage with their children's media use, facilitating discussions and management of media-related risks. Meanwhile, the Control Arm emphasizes General Positive Parenting without media-specific content. Although digital programs are not always robust, they have shown promise in reducing alcohol use. Overall, involving parents through technology can lead to healthier outcomes for young people facing substance issues. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joy Gabrielli

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-reading parents with internet and smartphone access, who have at least one child in middle school living with them. It aims to help these parents use media parenting techniques to prevent substance abuse in their children.

Inclusion Criteria

I have internet and a smartphone for online group participation.

You must have the ability to read and understand English at a 6th grade level.

I have a child in middle school living with me.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants enroll in a web-based psychoeducational group focusing on media parenting, with weekly push messages and online discussions.

6 weeks

Online participation with weekly activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in media parenting behavior and youth substance use risk.

3 months

Assessment at 3 months post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• General Positive Parenting
• T.E.C.H. Parenting

Trial Overview The study tests a new intervention called T.E.C.H. Parenting against general positive parenting advice. The goal is to see if specific media-related parenting strategies can reduce the risk of kids starting or escalating substance use.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Arm - T.E.C.H. Parenting Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intervention Arm participants will enroll in a web-based psychoeducational group (15 parents per group across 4 groups). Participants will receive psychoeducational information on media parenting, and they will be invited to participate in an online group discussion board to share their experiences with other parents in the intervention. In weeks 2-5, participants will learn about 4 domains of media parenting: 1) Talk to your child about media; 2) Educate your child about media-related risks; 3) Co-View/Co-Use media and technology actively with your child; and 4) establish House rules for media usage. Week 6 will review information and provide an "expert clinician" to support parent problem solving. Participants will receive 2-3 weekly push messages via text messaging prompting practice of skills learned in the group setting. Participants will be assessed at baseline, immediately following the 6 week intervention, and 3 months after the intervention is completed.

Group II: Control Arm - General Positive Parenting Active Control 1 Intervention

The Control Arm of the RCT is the attention control group. These participants will enroll in a web-based psychoeducational group (four groups of 15 parents each). They will receive 6 weeks of online psychoeducational material, including 2-3 push messages prompting skill practice. Parents will have access to an online discussion board to share experiences with other parents. This group will match the intervention arm of the study in number of study staff contacts, time of start/duration of the group, peer support, and availability of a professional in week six for consultation on parenting issues. Control participants will not receive information on media parenting. Participants in this group will be assessed at baseline, immediately following the six-week intervention period, and 3 months after intervention completion. Participants will be asked about exposure to TECH Parenting content at baseline and follow up to address potential contamination effects across study arms.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery effectively improves parenting skills and enhances parents' satisfaction and competence, as shown by objective scales and participant reports.

The program is grounded in principles that have been proven to reduce the risks of child abuse, neglect, and substance abuse for both parents and children, indicating its potential for long-term positive outcomes in affected families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting services for families affected by substance abuse. Moore, J., Finkelstein, N.[2004]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S0740547221001835

Pilot Randomized Trial of a Technology-Assisted Parenting Adolescents in short-term residential whose parents received Parent. SMART showed fewer drinking days and fewer school problems over time, relative to.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3325166/

Integrated programs for mothers with substance abuse issues The limited available evidence supports integrated programs, as findings suggest that they are associated with improvements in parenting skills.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5210307/

Technology-assisted intervention for parents ... This study will adapt and evaluate a technology-assisted parenting intervention as a means of improving adolescent outcomes following residential SUD treatment.

4. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2022/2/e35934/

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents ... This protocol paper describes a fully-powered randomized controlled pragmatic effectiveness trial of Parent SMART as an adjunct to residential TAU.

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638237.2023.2245902

Full article: The effectiveness of digital health technologies ... The effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing substance use is generally weak, however, promising results such as reducing alcohol use were seen.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5773118/

Computer-Based Prevention and Intervention to Reduce ... This review examines recent evidence on computer-based programs aimed at substance use among youth, with particular attention to results from randomized trials.

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1224582/full

Use of technology in evidence-based programs for child ... This scoping review provides a contextualized overview and summary of the use of technology in evidence-based parenting and child programs serving families ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/312266201_Technology-assisted_intervention_for_parents_of_adolescents_in_residential_substance_use_treatment_protocol_of_an_open_trial_and_pilot_randomized_trial

(PDF) Technology-assisted intervention for parents of ... Secondary outcomes will include adolescent substance use, truancy, high-risk sexual behavior, and criminal involvement. Two parenting processes ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724622000853

From parenting skills to adolescent treatment needs Adolescent substance use is a pervasive public health problem, with over 1.6 million youth (6.3% of adolescents) meeting criteria for a past-year substance use ...