Abstract
BackgroundIn recent decades, parents have been involved in programs that aim to improve parenting style and reduce child behavior problems. Research of preventive parenting programs has shown that these interventions generally have a positive influence on both parents and children. However, to our knowledge there is a gap in the scientific literature when it comes to randomized controlled trials of brief, manual-based structured programs which address general parenting among the population, and focus on promoting health. A four-session universal health promotion parent group program named All Children in Focus was developed. It aims at promoting parental competence and children’s positive development with the parent–child relationship as the target. There is currently no randomized controlled trial existing of the program.Methods/DesignA prospective multicenter randomized wait-list controlled trial is being conducted. Approximately 600 parents with children ranging in age from 3–12 years have been recruited in eleven municipalities and city districts in the County of Stockholm, Sweden. Parents are randomized at baseline to an intervention group, which receives the program directly, or to a waiting-list control group, which participates in the program six months later. Changes in parenting and child health and development are assessed with measures immediately post-intervention and six months after the baseline. Observations of a minor group of parents and children are conducted to explore possible relations between parental reports and observed behaviors, as well as changes in the interaction between parent and child. Further, data collected within the evaluation will also be applied to evaluate the possible cost-effectiveness of the program.DiscussionThis paper describes a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Except for the quantitative outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of All Children in Focus, this protocol also describes health economic and qualitative analyses to deepen the knowledge of the program. We further discuss some issues regarding the implementation of the program in municipalities and city districts.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN70202532
Highlights
In recent decades, parents have been involved in programs that aim to improve parenting style and reduce child behavior problems
The main objective of our study is to evaluate the effects of a universal parenting program, the ABC-program, through promotion of parental self-efficacy as well as children’s development and well-being
This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a Swedish universal parenting group program, ABC (All Children in Focus/Alla Barn i Centrum (Swed.))
Summary
This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a Swedish universal parenting group program, ABC (All Children in Focus/Alla Barn i Centrum (Swed.)). In the case of working with other professionals in addition to researchers, the practitioners in our study were concerned about parents entering the control group, and having to wait six months to get the intervention. It is important for all involved in the study to understand the ethics and the reasoning for this. Parents should be informed about the study procedure at an early stage to avoid confusion; for example, not all participants will receive the intervention directly, but may be assigned to a waiting-list control.
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