Objective To evaluate an individually tailored multicomponent nonadherence treatment protocol using a telehealth delivery approach in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Nine participants, age 13.71±1.35 years, completed a brief treatment online through Skype. Medication nonadherence, severity of disease, and feasibility/acceptability data were obtained. Results Adherence increased markedly from 62% at baseline to 91% for mesalamine (δ = 0.63), but decreased slightly from 61% at baseline to 53% for 6-mercaptopurine /azathioprine. The telehealth delivery approach resulted in cost savings of $100 in mileage and 4 h of travel time/patient. Treatment session attendance was 100%, and the intervention was rated as acceptable, particularly in terms of treatment convenience. Conclusion Individually tailored treatment of nonadherence through telehealth delivery is feasible and acceptable. This treatment shows promise for clinical efficacy to improve medication adherence and reduce costs. Large-scale testing is necessary to determine the impact of this intervention on adherence and health outcomes.

This project sought to assess the generalizability, barriers, and facilitators of implementing the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) model for addressing psychosocial risk factors for maltreatment across multiple primary care settings, including a pediatric practice, federally qualified health center, and family medicine practice. The SEEK model includes screening caregivers for psychosocial risk factors at well-child visits age 0 to 5 years, brief intervention incorporating principles of motivational interviewing to engage caregivers, and referral to treatment. All practices successfully implemented SEEK, with screening completion rates from 75% to 93% and brief intervention rates from 61% to 81%. Major parental stress (14%) and food insecurity (11%) were the most common risk factors. Providers found SEEK worthwhile for improving their knowledge, skills, and ability to address psychosocial concerns and provide whole person care. Barriers included limited time and resources, incomplete resource knowledge, and lack of follow-up. Facilitators included on-site support staff to assist with communication and referrals.

Objective Nonadherence is a significant health care issue in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that requires intervention to improve outcomes. This pilot randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an individually tailored behavioral treatment for nonadherence in adolescents with IBD. Patients and Methods Fourteen adolescents ages 14.89 ± 2.01 years were randomly assigned to immediate care or wait list control conditions and received a manualized individually tailored behavioral intervention for nonadherence. Medication adherence, measured by pill count, served as the primary endpoint. Parents provided demographic data and ratings of intervention acceptability and patients provided disease-severity data. Results Feasibility of the treatment was demonstrated by 100% treatment session attendance for all of the patients enrolled in the trial. Both parent and patient acceptability ratings were favorable. Comparison of baseline with posttreatment percent adherence across both conditions demonstrated that treatment resulted in a 4% gain in 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine adherence (52% at baseline; 56% at posttreatment; δ =0.07) and a 25% gain in mesalamine adherence (43% at baseline; 68% at posttreatment; δ =0.57). Conclusions Individually tailored treatment of nonadherence in adolescents with IBD is feasible and may result in substantial improvement in medication adherence. Differential effect of the intervention on medications requires further investigation, but it may reflect differences in regimen complexity, concerns about medication adverse effects, and/or patient/parent preference to target more complex regimens. Large-scale testing of this intervention is needed to demonstrate effect on clinical outcomes.

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Objective To pilot test the feasibility and acceptability of a family-based group behavioral intervention to improve medication adherence in adolescents diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Methods Participants were 40 adolescents age 11-18 years diagnosed with IBD and their primary caregivers, who were randomized to either a 4-session Family-Based Group Behavioral Treatment or Usual Care over a 6-week period. Adherence was measured using a mutli-method, multi-informant assessment involving caregiver- and patient-report, pill count data, and electronic monitoring. Results Adherence rates ranged from 66-89% for 6-MP/azathioprine and 51-93% for mesalamine across assessment methods. The intervention was feasible, as evidenced by the 99% treatment session attendance rate, and acceptable based on patient and caregiver report. Repeated measures ANOVA tests revealed nonsignificant differences between the conditions from baseline to post-treatment assessments for pill count, electronic monitor, and primary caregiver-reported adherence (p's> .05). There was a statistically significant improvement in patient-reported mesalamine adherence represented by a significant main effect for Condition (F = 22.24, p< .01; δ = .79) and Condition X Time interaction (F = 13.32, p< .05; δ = .69). Conclusions Findings suggest potential for use of behavioral intervention to improve medication adherence in this population. This intervention may be more effective with more complex regimens (e.g., multiple doses per day) such as those prescribed with mesalamine. Further research is needed to examine this type of intervention in more diverse samples with more active disease. Use of alternative adherence measurement approaches, including electronic pill boxes and/or real-time self-report (e.g., via text messaging, electronic diaries, etc.) is also recommended.