Referral to Digital Parent Training in Primary Care: Facilitators and Barriers

Abstract

Objective: Parent training (PT) programs for parents of preschool-aged children promote effective parenting practices and reduce the risk for the development of child behavior problems. Digital platforms and self-administered formats can expand access to preventive PT and complement traditional behavioral services. Primary care provides an ideal environment to refer patients to prevention-focused PT; however, effective integration of a referral process requires an understanding of implementation facilitators and barriers. The current study is a secondary analysis of facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a referral to ezParent, a self-administered, digital PT program, in four primary care clinics from the perspective of clinic personnel. Method: Personnel from participating clinics took part in semistructured group interviews to share their experiences of referral to ezParent. Researchers extracted themes using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: Clinic personnel support preventive PT, but time, workflow, and organizational barriers impede consistent referral implementation. Conclusions: The authors discuss recommendations for harnessing facilitators for referring primary care patients to digital PT using the strengths of multidisciplinary clinical teams and organizational structures.

Implications for Impact Statement

Primary care providers (PCPs) and staff in primary health care clinics support self-administered, digital parent training (PT) as a preventive resource; however, they struggle to integrate program referrals into well-child visits. PCP and staff recommendations have implications for ways in which psychologists and other mental health specialists can support successful preventive referrals to self-administered, digital PT resources.