Shared decision making between community therapists and Latinx caregivers during evidence-based practice delivery in publicly-funded children’s mental health services

Abstract

ObjectivesThis observational study examined shared decision-making (SDM) with caregivers of Latinx youth within the delivery of multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs) in community mental health services. Study aims were to (1) Characterize therapist use of SDM strategies and (2) Describe the types of treatment decisions that were the focus of therapist use of SDM. MethodsThe OPTION instrument was used to measure SDM in 210 audio-recorded therapy sessions with 62 community therapists and 109 Latinx caregivers; frequency and mean ratings of OPTION items were examined. Qualitative analysis on the descriptions of treatment decisions being deliberated was also conducted. ResultsResults revealed that therapists used at least one SDM step in most sessions (N = 192; 91.43%) with a mean composite score of 32.78 (SD=17.79; range: 6.25–81.25). Four superordinate categories of decisions were: (1) Treatment planning, (2) Evidence-based Parenting Strategies, (3) Addressing Youth Functioning, and (4) Addressing Family Psychosocial Needs. ConclusionsFindings suggest that community therapists serving Latinx families are naturalistically engaging in SDM steps about a variety of decisions during most EBP sessions, but only at modest levels.