A New Generation of Online Interactive Family-Based Preventions

Social media, accessible and varied platforms, and expectations of controlling when and where information is available to families have all conjoined to create a different set of expectations and demands on prevention scientists. Developing new strategies and programs to promote public health that take advantage of the electronic communications, requires retaining the strengths of the evidenced-based approaches that have been the foundation of our strategies, while responding to the new demands generated by today’s communication currency.  Parents and youth are receptive to prevention strategies that: (a) address core content important to families, (b) present relevant and engaging designs, and (c) acknowledge the importance of implementation. Invited discussants have identified key questions that need to be addressed in creating this new generation of online interactive family-based prevention. Discussants have unique experiences in creating online interactive family-based prevention programs that will be used as examples for addressing the following topics. These examples will be used to encourage an interactive session with full-participation of the audience.

1. How has the content of family-based health promotion been impacted by the online delivery process?
   1. Maintaining relevant topics/materials through the online delivery process
   2. Importance of infusing a core of communication strategies with intervention to promote family to family and within family communications
   3. What are the links between online delivery of content with offline interaction of content between parent and youth?
2. What are the design issues of importance in implementing online health promotion to prevent high risk outcomes for families?
   1. How engagement of families is different
   2. Can the design appeal to many different types of families?
   3. How can design be personalized to families for ensuring relevance and meet the needs of different families?
3. How is the implementation impacted by the online delivery mechanism?
   1. What is the changing access to the web and why is this important to family-based interventions?
   2. What is the convenience factor and why is it important to families? 
   3. How does the delivery maintain key elements of the group process that can support and enhance family involvement, adherence and completion?
   4. How is the engagement of the families different when using the web?
   5. How is adherence and completion different for families using the web?
   6. How is the fidelity of the intervention impacted?