Evaluation of a decision aid for the treatment of depression among college students

Abstract

Objective: Depression, and its treatment, is a concern among college students. Research indicates decision aids (DA) improve patients’ treatment knowledge, decision making, and decisional conflict; however, it is unknown whether they are helpful for disseminating depression treatment information to college students. This study evaluated a DA for depression and its impact on college students’ knowledge and treatment decision making. Methods: College students (N = 144) completed questionnaires pre-, post-, and at 1-month follow-up after reviewing an evidence-based DA for depression. Results: Participants rated the DA as highly acceptable and useful, and their knowledge increased at post-treatment and follow-up. However, treatment option presentation order influenced decision making. Conclusions: This DA is a useful and acceptable decision-making tool, and increased knowledge of depression and its treatment among college students. This study proposes a novel tool for educating college students about depression treatment, furthering our understanding of factors influencing treatment preferences.

Keywords:

• College students
• decision aid
• depression
• mental health
• treatment options

Acknowledgements

Members of the Mobilizing Minds Research Group include the following (in alphabetical order). Young adult partners: Chris Amini, Amanda Aziz, Meagan DeJong, Pauline Fogarty, Mark Leonhart, Alicia Raimundo, Kristin Reynolds, Allan Sielski, Tara Syed, and Alex Yaeger; Community partners: Maria Luisa Contursi and Christine Garinger from mindyourmind (mindyourmind.ca); Research partners: Lynne Angus, Chuck Cunningham, John D. Eastwood, Jack Ferrari, Patricia Furer, Madalyn Marcus, Jennifer McPhee, David Phipps, Linda Rose-Krasnor, Kim Ryan-Nicholls, Richard Swinson, John Walker, and Henny Westra; and Research associates: Jennifer Volk and Brad Zacharias.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Canada and received approval from the Research Ethics Board of Ryerson University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Knowledge Translation Team Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Mental Health Commission of Canada [Ref. No. TMF 88666].