Evaluating the Parent-Adolescent Communication Toolkit: Usability, measure assessment and preliminary content effectiveness

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the usability and preliminary effectiveness of the Parent-Adolescent Communication Toolkit (PACT), an online intervention designed to improve parents’ communication with their adolescents. The concurrent criterion validity of a scale entitled the IWK-Parent Adolescent Communication Checklist (IWK-PACC) and the differences between two types of PACT skill module delivery styles (sequential and unrestricted module access) were examined. Usability ratings were high and parent feedback was positive. The sequential module access groups rated the PACT content higher and completed more content than the unrestricted chapter access group, indicating support for the PACT sequential access design. The IWK-PACC was moderately correlated with an established communication scale and indicated validity. Parent mean post-test communication scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores. No significant differences were detected for adolescent participants. Findings suggest that PACT has potential to improve parent-adolescent communication but further effectiveness assessment is required before dissemination of PACT occurs.