CBHNP offers a preventive health program designed to assist parents in identifying age-appropriate behaviors and raising awareness about ADHD. The information is supplied in a newsletter format that includes a screening tool for ADHD. This information is sent to parents of all Capital Area HealthChoices Members turning age six.

This educational program compliments the care given by providers. Together with provider support, CBHNP can help parents recognize the signs and symptoms of ADHD. This program can help parents understand age-appropriate behaviors and skills as well as behaviors that might be indicative of ADHD. The goal of the program is to help parents identify if their child is at high risk for ADHD and if at risk, secure a professional diagnostic evaluation. An evaluation early in the course of illness, coupled with appropriate treatment, will improve the treatment outcomes for these children.

CBHNP regularly measures how well the prevention programs are working through a Member survey. For the ADHD Program, five items are measured on a “1” (worst) to “4” (best) scale. In the most recent quarter, 1156 Members were identified to receive the educational information. 932 surveys were delivered and no one opted out of the program. 23 Members returned the survey, a total of 2.1% of those receiving the survey responded.

Following are the most current results of the responders to the survey:

Basic Skills and Abilities (Item 1) – how helpful is the program in describing the basic skills and abilities that children need in order to do well at home and in school.
Average Response = 3, with 87.0% positive ratings.

Problem Recognition (Item 2) – how informative the materials were in describing how to recognize problems their child may experience.
Average Response = 4, with 91.3% positive ratings.

ADHD Information (Item 3) – how helpful the materials were in providing them with a basic understanding of ADHD and its symptoms.
Average Response = 4, with 87.0% positive ratings.

ADHD Identification (Item 4) – how helpful the screening tool was.
Average Response = 3, with 82.6% positive ratings.

Directing Further Action (Item 5) – how much the information helped them understand what they could do about difficulties their child may experience. 
Average Response = 4, with 78.3% positive ratings.

 

CBHNP offers a preventive health program for Members between the ages of 18 and 64 who have recently been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and are being treated with psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication. This program is designed to improve clinical outcomes for these individuals by educating them about depression, its symptoms, available treatments, the course of recovery, and by helping them understand critical aspects of their own role in the treatment process. A series of three education newsletters are sent to all Members with new diagnoses of major depression.

Together with provider support, CBHNP can help its Members, receiving treatment for MDD, become informed consumers of health care and actively involved in their own treatment. It is our hope that the educational materials will help Members understand the importance of communicating with their providers and increase treatment compliance. Treatment compliance and communication about treatment issues are critical to helping individuals overcome their depression in a timely and effective manner.

Quarterly, CBHNP measures how well the prevention programs are working. The most recent reports offered results of the total number of modules sent to Members identified with Depression for the first time, total number of those reached, the number of Members who opted out of the program and total number of Members who returned the survey. The yearly results for 2008 and comparison to the two previous years are as follows:

Mailing Results	2006	2007	2008	2009
Total # reached	1697	1326	1474	1700
Total # sent	1990	1538	1699	1785
Total # opted out	14	9	5	16
Total # of surveys returned	77	53	75	69
Percent of returned surveys	4.5%	4.0%	5.1%	4.8%

Question from Survey	2006	2007	2008	2009
Responders shared the information with family and friends.	52%	38%	47%	43%
Responders found the information helpful.	78%	83%	83%	86%
Responders increased their knowledge about antidepressant medication	79%	75%	76%	78%
Responders increased their knowledge about the treatment of depression.	75%	72%	79%	91%
Responders increased their knowledge of coping skills.	77%	75%	77%	80%
Responder reported the newsletter helped them discuses their side effects with their physician.	60%	64%	76%	83%

In summary, the 2009 results survey indicate that the majority of Members who returned the survey, found the information was helpful and it expanded their knowledge about depression, medications and treatment course. Remarkably, 83% of the Members noted they would discuss medication side effects with their physician which is an increase from previous years. This improvement is significant because it may ultimately improve compliance. It is also noteworthy that Member’s are still hesitating to share with family and friends in partial due to the fear of stigma. Ongoing education with Members on reducing stigma occurs at the provider level and through the Member newsletter.