Developing a Tailored Texting Preventive Intervention: A Card Sort Methodology

Conclusions: Youth exiting foster care constitutes a unique population whose voice is paramount in the development of interventions. The content present in traditional approaches to substance‐use prevention (e.g., increasing social support) may not apply to this group of vulnerable youth. The card sort technique has strong potential to evoke youth‐specific intervention content that is more readily understood and accepted by target audiences. Intervention content written by adults for youth can result in miscommunication due to generational and cultural differences. Co‐creation, rather, can augment acceptability. We examined the utility of a card sort technique when creating text messages for a preventive substance use intervention. Twenty‐four youth exiting foster care rated messages rooted in Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model. Participants favored content that encouraged autonomy or “looking forward.” Messages about the past and suggestions for professional assistance were rated poorly. Encouragement to rely on social support was met with ambivalence, as some felt discouraged that they lacked supports. The voice of foster youth is paramount for intervention development. This technique has strong potential to evoke content that is more readily understood and accepted.

Source: Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research - March 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jordan M. Braciszewski, Tanya B. Tran, Roland S. Moore, Beth C. Bock, Golfo K. Tzilos, Patricia Chamberlain, Robert L. Stout Tags: Original Article Source Type: research