MARBAR-Africa dashboard to improve psychotherapy outcomes in Kenya
Testing development, acceptability, feasibility and costing of MARBAR-Africa (a routine outcome interactive measurement dashboard) for improved psychotherapy outcomes in specialist public health care
This project will build and try out a simple dashboard that helps therapists track and respond to patient progress in public mental health clinics in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173905 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll be invited to clinics in Nairobi or Kisumu to use a new dashboard that records symptoms, functioning, and quality of life between therapy sessions. The team will adapt a system developed in Ecuador to fit Kenyan clinic workflows and language. Over six months the pilot will test whether clinic staff can use the dashboard, how much it costs, and whether it helps therapists change care when patients are not improving. Researchers will also compare symptom and functioning patterns to learn which patients and treatments lead to lasting improvements.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving psychotherapy at the participating public hospital clinics in Nairobi or Kisumu—especially those with common mental health conditions like depression or anxiety—are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not receiving therapy at the two pilot clinics, live outside those areas, or have conditions treated only in inpatient or specialist services may not benefit directly from this pilot.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the dashboard could help therapists personalize care faster so more patients improve and reach remission sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Routine outcome monitoring systems have been used elsewhere and can improve treatment effectiveness, but applying and testing this specific MARBAR-Africa adaptation in Kenyan public clinics is new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Manasi — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Manasi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.