HMC Supplement Progress Report - MODALITY

February 2006
 

Supplement Title:                 Identifying Components of HMC Interventions that Predict Outcomes

Supplement Chair /
Affiliation:                             Jim McKay, PhD - University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center

Purpose:                               To extend a new methodology for characterizing diverse multi-dimensional psychosocial and                                              behavioral interventions across a set of common components and examining the relationships of                                              individual intervention components to study outcomes. 

Modality
Sharepoint Group:                Sharepoint Contact – Jim McKay
(In addition to HMCRC Members)

Progress to Date:  We have had a series of conference calls and one face-to-face meeting with the three primary consultants on this project—Sara Czaja, Rich Schulz, and Steve Belle.  The goal of these meetings was to revise the modalities survey to better capture the kind of information needed to assess the components of the various interventions in the BCC and HMC.  We were aided in this work by the members of the Modalities Supplement group, who provided extensive written descriptions of their intervention protocols for the consultants to review.  One of the main changes from the earlier version of the survey is that many questions about intervention components and procedures are now asked about each intervention in the study.  We have also improved several questions that were vague, confusing, or poorly written, and added cultural competency questions.  At this point, the revised survey has been completed, and an on line, SNAP version is available along with a Word version.  One investigator, Deborah Toobert, has completed the new survey.

Challenges to Date:  Our biggest challenge has been how to get comprehensive information in a way that is not too painful for the investigators filling out the survey.  Another challenge has been how best to synthesize the input of all group members with regard to potential modifications to the modalities survey.  Sara, Rich, and Steve were a big help in that regard.

Next Steps:  We hope to have the remaining two BCC investigators complete the revised survey prior to our meeting in March.  At the meeting, we will meet with the full modalities group to update everyone on progress so far and outline next steps.  We will also have a smaller meeting with the consultants and the three BCC investigators to discuss their experiences in completing the revised survey and address any questions that came up for them.  We will also develop a plan to obtain the three BCC data bases and house relevant variables at one site (probably Penn), and begin a discussion about data analyses that will be done to link intervention components to outcomes in these three studies.  Once we are all comfortable with the content and organization of the revised modalities survey, we will have the PIs of the HMC substance abuse studies complete the survey.  If that goes well, the remaining studies participating in the Supplement will be asked to complete the survey too.   As outcome data become available, we will begin the analytic work.  One topic that will be addressed in future teleconference and face-to-face meetings is how to structure/transform outcomes from various studies into variables that can be used across all studies.  This will likely involve primary as well as secondary outcomes (which are more likely to be comparable across many studies).