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. 2024 Jan 8:8:e52969.
doi: 10.2196/52969.

Remote Delivery of the Cuidándome Telehealth Intervention for Self-Management of Depression and Anxiety Among Latina Immigrant Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

Carmen Alvarez  1 , Subhash Aryal  1 , Elizabeth Vrany  2 , Maria Jose Sanchez R  3 , Rosalphie Quiles  4 , Lia Escobar-Acosta  5 , Felicia Hill-Briggs  2
Affiliations

Remote Delivery of the Cuidándome Telehealth Intervention for Self-Management of Depression and Anxiety Among Latina Immigrant Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

Carmen Alvarez et al. JMIR Form Res. .

Abstract

Background: Growing evidence suggests that Latina immigrant survivors of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at increased risk for developing and remaining with either depression or anxiety or both symptoms. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth intervention-Cuidándome (quee-DAN-doh-meh, "taking care of myself"). Cuidándome is a 10-week, patient-centered, trauma-informed intervention delivered by a trained facilitator that promotes self-management of depression and anxiety symptoms through improved problem-solving skills and strategies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of Cuidándome delivered remotely (via Zoom) with Latina immigrant ACE survivors with either depression or anxiety or both symptoms. We also estimated the effect sizes associated with the intervention on decreasing depression and anxiety symptoms and improving social problem-solving styles.

Methods: We evaluated Cuidándome using a randomized controlled trial design. Latina immigrants (N=47) who had experienced at least 1 ACE and had at least mild depression or anxiety symptoms were randomized to Cuidándome or a comparison group delivered by trained facilitators. We assessed for changes in depression and anxiety symptoms as well as social problem-solving styles at baseline, post intervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Results: Analyses indicated significant decreases over time within both Cuidándome and comparison groups for depression and anxiety symptoms and maladaptive problem-solving. The intervention effect was largest for anxiety; at 6-month follow-up, Cuidándome participants had significantly lower anxiety scores than the comparison group. In addition, we observed a greater average point reduction in depression symptoms at 6 months among Cuidándome participants (5.7 points) than in the comparison group (3.7 points).

Conclusions: A mental health program delivered via Zoom by a trained facilitator was feasible and acceptable to Latina immigrant women and can be beneficial for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. More research is needed to assess the effectiveness of Cuidándome among a powered sample size of Latina immigrants.

Trial registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN16668518; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16668518.

Keywords: Hispanic; Latin; Latina; Latina immigrant; Latino; Latinx; Spanish; acceptability; adverse; anxiety; child; childhood; children; controlled trial; controlled trials; depression; depressive; digital health; eHealth; feasibility; immigrant; immigrants; intervention study; mental health; mobile phone; problem-solving; randomized; survivor; telehealth; telemedicine; trauma; trauma-informed; traumatic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flowchart of participant enrollment, allocation, and adherence. CONSORT: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials; GAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7; PHQ-8: Patient Health Questionnaire-8.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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