None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The study aims to prevent the development of child externalizing behaviour problems (eg aggression, oppositional defiance) by offering parents anticipatory guidance on how to effectively manage toddler behaviour. Up to 20% of Australian children aged 4 to 16 years experience significant behaviour problems and only ¼ of these receive professional help. Treating established problems is time and cost intensive and so a prevention approach is required. This community-based study will assess the effectiveness of a parenting program designed to promote warm and appropriate parenting, and to offer alternatives to harsh, punitive parenting (known to contribute to externalising problems). MCH nurses deliver the program. It is the first study of its kind in the world to offer a universal, primary health care preventive program for externalising behaviour problems.
Interventions
Arm A - Intervention: Parenting program (one 15-minute session at the routine individual Maternal and Child Health (MCH) 8-month visit, and two 2-hour group sessions when the children are ages 12 and 15 months) that discuss normal toddler behaviour development, ways to encourage desirable behaviour, and ways to manage misbehaviour. Strategies were derived from systematic reviews of parenting programs for treating established child externalising behaviour problems. Programs delivered by Maternal
Arm A - Intervention: Parenting program (one 15-minute session at the routine individual Maternal and Child Health (MCH) 8-month visit, and two 2-hour group sessions when the children are ages 12 and 15 months) that discuss normal toddler behaviour development, ways to encourage desirable behaviour, and ways to manage misbehaviour. Strategies were derived from systematic reviews of parenting programs for treating established child externalising behaviour problems. Programs delivered by Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Nurses and co-facilitated by parenting experts.
Sponsors
Dr Harriet Hiscock
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Eligible participants were parents of children aged 6 months attending community well-child clinics across 6 Melbourne local government areas during August/September 2004. Families were recruited from a broad sociodemographic sample.
Exclusion criteria
Parents with insufficient English to attend a parenting group and complete brief written questionnaires.
Outcome results
None listed