# A novel digital platform for measurement-based peer supervision of non-specialist providers conducting brief psychological interventions

> **NIH NIH R44** · DIMAGI, INC. · 2024 · $1,014,530

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
There is a critical shortage of mental health specialists (i.e., psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed
mental health counselors) and a growing mental health crisis in the US. Task sharing, whereby highly
qualified health workers share specific tasks non-specialist providers (NSPs) with less training and
fewer qualifications in order to make more efficient use of the available human resources, is an
approach that can scale and address unmet mental health needs, particularly in hard-to-reach
communities with limited to no access to specialist care. We propose a comprehensive solution to
support a task sharing approach for delivering high quality brief psychosocial interventions. Our
proposed digital platform is designed to support measurement-based peer supervision (MBPS), which
includes the ability for NSPs to record therapy sessions, rate them using a validated quality scale, and
review ratings safely and securely with peers in moderated group discussions. We developed and
successfully demonstrated acceptability, usability, and potential feasibility of digitally-enabled MBPS to
support NSP performance and quality of care in Phase I. The goal of this Phase II project is to enhance
and evaluate the efficacy of this digitally-enabled MBPS tool with NSPs working directly in communities.
We will address this goal with three specific aims. In Aim 1, we will build an enhanced version of the
digital platform based on Phase I feedback and direct input from NSPs. In Aim 2, we will conduct a
mixed methods evaluation of digitally-enabled MBPS with 50 target end users, i.e., NSPs recruited from
a large health system in Texas and recently trained in behavioral activation. During this period, NSPs
will engage in mock sessions with standardized patients. Primary outcomes of interest will be NSP
competency in delivering behavioral activation therapy and counselor self-efficacy. In Aim 3, we will
conduct a cost analysis for the system under different implementation rollout and volume assumptions.
Results from these analyses will be reviewed with stakeholders and will be used to develop a cost
calculator to inform the development and comparison of sustainability models. The proposed digitized
MBPS workflow would allow quantitative data on therapy quality to be collected at scale which, in turn,
could be used for a wide range of analyses, including measuring the effectiveness of types, cadences,
or duration of therapy, as well as building tools using predictive analytics. Results of this Phase II work
can provide important insights to guide the implementation and scaling of effective delivery of
psychosocial interventions and program quality improvement, with the long-term goal of improving
mental health outcomes in hard-to-reach communities that can benefit the most from NSP-led support.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11007951
- **Project number:** 2R44MH130305-02
- **Recipient organization:** DIMAGI, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Y. Xian Ho
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,014,530
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11007951

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11007951, A novel digital platform for measurement-based peer supervision of non-specialist providers conducting brief psychological interventions (2R44MH130305-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11007951. Licensed CC0.

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