Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;12(3). pii: PCC.09m00791.

Development and Pilot Study of a Marketing Strategy for Primary Care/Internet-Based Depression Prevention Intervention for Adolescents (The CATCH-IT Intervention).

Van Voorhees BW, Watson N, Bridges JF, Fogel J, Galas J, Kramer C, Connery M, McGill A, Marko M, Cardenas A, Landsback J, Dmochowska K, Kuwabara SA, Ellis J, Prochaska M, Bell C.

Source

Departments of Medicine , Psychiatry , and Pediatrics , The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Departments of Health Management and Policy and Mental Hygiene , Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Medical Specialists of Indiana/Child Life Centers, Merrillville ; Booth School of Business and School of Medicine , The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Economics, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Adolescent depression is both common and burdensome, and while evidence-based strategies have been developed to prevent adolescent depression, participation in such interventions remains extremely low, with less than 3% of at-risk individuals participating. To promote participation in evidence-based preventive strategies, a rigorous marketing strategy is needed to translate research into practice.

OBJECTIVE:

To develop and pilot a rigorous marketing strategy for engaging at-risk individuals with an Internet-based depression prevention intervention in primary care targeting key attitudes and beliefs.

METHOD:

A marketing design group was constituted to develop a marketing strategy based on the principles of targeting, positioning/competitor analysis, decision analysis, and promotion/distribution and incorporating contemporary models of behavior change. We evaluated the formative quality of the intervention and observed the fielding experience for prevention using a pilot study (observational) design.

RESULTS:

The marketing plan focused on "resiliency building" rather than "depression intervention" and was relayed by office staff and the Internet site. Twelve practices successfully implemented the intervention and recruited a diverse sample of adolescents with > 30% of all those with positive screens and > 80% of those eligible after phone assessment enrolling in the study with a cost of $58 per enrollee. Adolescent motivation for depression prevention (1-10 scale) increased from a baseline mean value of 7.45 (SD = 2.05) to 8.07 poststudy (SD = 1.33) (P = .048).