Parental Aid Research Articles

Co-design of an optimal distance learning model adapted to rural areas of Morocco in primary school

This participatory research aims the co-design of an optimal distance education system adapted to rural areas, in collaboration with local stackholders. We adapted semi-structured interviews with each group (school principals, teachers, students, parents) that allowed us first to evaluate the teaching models used in their environment. Secondly, with a collaborative working group, the results of the analysis are used to identify and plan corrective actions for these models. The outcome of the corrective actions allowed us to co-design in each school an optimal 3D model to improve the performance and use of distance or hybrid teaching practices.
 The idea of the designed model is to set an internet generator in the schools to provide good network to the whole region. The stakeholders also designed their specific tablet, which is connected to an intranet, and that only works between the school and the students’ devices, ensuring that the student would not have access to any other content than education. The teacher will have a similar device, he will receive the students' comments, and he will be able to clarify or answer the students’ questions individually or in groups, online or during the face-to-face lesson. Students wanted their device to be uploaded with interactive lessons to make them feel like they were in a genuine class. In addition, they wanted parental aid during the home study process.

The Pedagogy Pill - An Alternative Approach to Preschool Education

From the very early years of life, a child develops a strong bond with their parents, and crying is the strategy through which a child signals discomfort by non-satisfaction with his grievances. Gradually, the child learns that when they scream, their mother tends to respond promptly to their signal. At such a tender age, the child does not understand the role of rules or the prohibition of acting in accordance with the ideals desired by the parents, making it a period with many challenges for parents and other educational agents (teachers, grandparents, relatives). The discrepancy between the child's desires and those of the parents can lead to tensions between parent and child. Positive parenting comes to the aid of parents who want to understand the mechanisms behind the child's actions and provide optimal solutions to the specific problems of this age.

Enacted Stigma Influences Bereavement Coping Among Children Orphaned by Parental AIDS: A Longitudinal Study with Network Analysis.

The study aims to understand how enacted stigma influences bereavement coping at the style (scale) level and the specific pathways at the strategy (item) level. The longitudinal data of 755 children orphaned by parental Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in rural China were used. Grief processing and deliberate grief avoidance were measured at wave 1 (baseline) and wave 2 (one-year follow-up) to reflect bereavement coping in the contexts of being with family members, being with friends, being with community members, and being alone. Enacted stigma that measured at wave 1 was used to assess the experienced stigma of these AIDS-orphaned children. Network analyses were run following regressions. Controlling for demographics and baseline-level bereavement coping, multivariate regressions revealed that enacted stigma at wave 1 significantly predicted grief processing and deliberate grief avoidance at wave 2. Network analyses showed that, for grief processing, stigma increased searching for meaning alone and with friends and expressing feelings to community members, which then provoked the same strategy across contexts. Meanwhile, stigma triggered the deliberate grief avoidance network by initially suppressing the expression of feelings to community members. Enacted stigma contributes to bereavement coping. Stigma stirs up complex feelings but forces AIDS-orphaned children to suppress expressions, and it increases needs to process grief through meaning making but cuts supporting forces by promoting avoidance. Interventions are imperative to reduce stigma, improve emotion regulation, and facilitate meaning making for people bereaved by stigmatized deaths.

MARI BELAJAR MENGURUS MASA DAN WANG (MBMMW) COURSEWARE FOR TABIKA KEMAS: TOWARDS PROMOTING ACTIVE LEARNING AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN

Nowadays, the use of web-based multimedia courseware encompasses all learning stages, especially among children. As an effort to assist teachers in promoting active learning among the children, Mari Belajar Mengurus Masa dan Wang (MBMMW) courseware is developed based on Tabika KEMAS core syllabus for mathematics focusing on money and time management. Proper interactive contents that include various activities and videos were provided in the courseware as the teaching and learning (T&L) aid for teachers, parents and students. Since there are limitations of current educational materials on money and time in Tabika KEMAS, MBMMW courseware is developed to assist both teachers and students in providing impactful T&L experience. This could later boost the students’ understanding and learning performance while allowing students to accomplish active learning with teachers and parents. By implementing cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) and user experience (UX) recommendations, MBMMW courseware was carefully developed via ADDIE Model. Functionality tests have been conducted to ensure the operations of the menu, buttons and links displayed in the courseware. Moreover, user evaluation for MBMMW has been performed towards understanding the initial acceptance of MBMMW courseware among the users. Results have mostly shown positive reactions from the users, thus acknowledging the usability of MBMMW as an interesting and fun active learning aid for presenting fundamental knowledge about money and time.

Development of the Tool to Empower Parental Telling and Talking (TELL Tool): A digital decision aid intervention about children's origins from donated gametes or embryos.

This study aimed to create and develop a well-designed, theoretically driven, evidence-based, digital, decision Tool to Empower Parental Telling and Talking (TELL Tool) prototype. This developmental study used an inclusive, systematic, and iterative process to formulate a prototype TELL Tool: the first digital decision aid for parents who have children 1 to 16 years of age and used donated gametes or embryos to establish their families. Recommendations from the International Patient Decision Aids Standards Collaboration and from experts in decision aid development, digital health interventions, design thinking, and instructional design guided the process. The extensive developmental process incorporated researchers, clinicians, parents, children, and other stakeholders, including donor-conceived adults. We determined the scope and target audience of the decision aid and formed a steering group. During design work, we used the decision-making process model as the guiding framework for selecting content. Parents' views and decisional needs were incorporated into the prototype through empirical research and review, appraisal, and synthesis of the literature. Clinicians' perspectives and insights were also incorporated. We used the experiential learning theory to guide the delivery of the content through a digital distribution plan. Following creation of initial content, including storyboards and scripts, an early prototype was redrafted and redesigned based on feedback from the steering group. A final TELL Tool prototype was then developed for alpha testing. Detailing our early developmental processes provides transparency that can benefit the donor-conceived community as well as clinicians and researchers, especially those designing digital decision aids. Future research to evaluate the efficacy of the TELL Tool is planned.

Evaluation of petanque sports achievement development for the special region of Yogyakarta

Top success in sports activities sports is the principle aim to be completed through all athletes, both humans, and groups. Obtaining the maximum overall performance requires a programmed and directed education. With this in thoughts, the researcher finished this research which pursued to determine the context of Context, Input, Process, and Product inside the evaluation of the improvement of Petanque sports activities Achievements within the unique place of Yogyakarta. These studies grow to be executed inside the Province of the unique place of Yogyakarta. The use of the evaluation research technique with the CIPP version (context, input, process, product). The topics of this look were the administrators, coaches, and athletes of the Petanque Yogyakarta special area. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling, with the pattern criteria, mainly: administrators, coaches, and athletes who had been registered with the FOPI of each district/city and stuffed out a questionnaire from the researcher. Facts series strategies the usage of the method of remark, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation. The facts evaluation method in this study is quantitative and qualitative descriptive evaluation. The effects of the studies and the results of information evaluation that have been executed, using a percent scale of 3.26-4.00 excellent elegance, 2.51-3.25 accurate class, 1.76-2.50 negative category, 1.00-1, 75 categories very negative. It was determined that the evaluation of Petanque sports activities fulfillment improvement within the special location of Yogyakarta turned to 2.86 inside the right elegance. The context of the evaluation of the Petanque sports activities fulfillment improvement of the unique location of Yogyakarta, scoring in 3.20 is within the best magnificence. With the historic beyond indicator of the training application is 3.34 great elegance, the aim of the schooling application is 3.06 suited class, and the education program is 3.22 proper elegance. The input for the evaluation of the development of Petanque sports activities Achievements within the unique vicinity of Yogyakarta, amounting to 2.81 is in wonderful magnificence. With indicators of human assets of 3.02 proper class, trainer program of 3.04 top class, investment of 2.73 authentic class, facilities and infrastructure of 2.63 nicely elegance, and parental aid of 2.66 precise classes. The evaluation technique for the improvement of Petanque sports Achievements inside the special area of Yogyakarta, scoring 2.98 is in the appropriate magnificence. With utility implementation indicators of 2.92 particular instructions and coordination of 3.05 proper classes. Product evaluation of Petanque sports fulfillment development, the unique location of Yogyakarta, amounting to 2.45 is in the much less category. With enterprise signs of 2.76 appropriate classes and outcomes of 2.45 poor categories.

IoT-based smart infant baby cradle using IR IP-camera

With the evolution of the internet of things and headway technologies like android phones and sensors every single thing got coupled and get controlled through the internet distantly, but at the same time the number of family member workers is also incremented. infant baby needs parental aid 24/7 to monitor different actions and check different parameters distantly but it is impractical, especially for those Parents/Caretakers who work outside of the home. So, there is a need for a system through which Parents/Caretaker can aid their infant baby and see infant babies’ activities distantly in real time about different parameters and conditions of the infant baby. The proposed system is a smart infant Baby Cradle using IoT Technology that sends an alert notification to the Parent/Caretaker. In the proposed system IR IP-Camera is used to seize an infant baby in the real environment even at night. The proposed system is able to sense an infant baby’s scream using a Microphone Module for 10 seconds, the temperature of the infant’s environment, sense urine in meters ultrasonic sensor, automate the opening and closing of mosquitoes’ net to sense mosquitoes and other harmful parasites using PIR sensor, infant baby Mass using weighting Scale, automatic fan, toys and music to entertain infant baby. The power bank is used to aid infant baby’s in case of lack of electricity. Finally, all these sensors and components are physically connected through Arduino AT Mega 2560. When sensors sense then it updates data onto the database server and notifies her/his Parent/Caretaker using HC-05 Blue-tooth and GSM SIM900A-D57 Module. The proposed system is able to keep all recorded history for one month.

Socio-demographic characteristics of medical personnel in parental aid institutions

The article examines the socio-demographic indicators of professional groups of medical workers, some factors of job satisfaction. Purpose of the study - socio-demographic characteristics of medical personnel in obstetric institutions for the further development of scientifically based recommendations on the formation of health-preserving behavior. The research was carried out by means of anonymous questionnaires on the basis of obstetric institutions of the second and third levels. Ryazan, Kolomna, Lipetsk, Smolensk. The study involved doctors (obstetricians-gynecologists, neonatologists) and nurses (midwives, anesthetics nurses, ward nurses). The study showed that about half of the respondents in medical professions, one tenth in the professional groups of nursing staff belong to the age category under 30 years old. The age group of 30-39 years is represented by doctors and mid-level medical personnel in almost equal proportions. In the age group 40 years and older, representatives of the nursing professions prevail. A significant part of the respondents are medical professions, have work experience in their specialty from 5 to 9 years; representatives of nursing professions, mainly, have work experience of 10-14 years and more than 15 years. In the families of nursing staff (nurse anesthetists and ward nurses), one can note dissatisfaction and incomplete satisfaction with the level of wages and lack of confidence in the future. The revealed dissatisfaction with work can lead to a decrease in motivation to perform professional duties. Socio-demographic characteristics are basic and serve as the basis for further hygienic and statistical studies, identifying correlations between unfavorable hygienic factors (physical inactivity, prolonged static load, local overstrain of certain muscle groups, exposure to physical, chemical and biological factors, psychoemotional and informational stress).

Caring dataveillance and the construction of “good parenting”: Estonian parents’ and pre-teens’ reflections on the use of tracking technologies

Abstract Digital parenting tools, such as child-tracking technologies, play an ever-increasing role in contemporary child rearing. To explore opinions and experiences related to the use of such tracking devices, we conducted Q methodology and a semi-structured individual interview-study with Estonian parents (n=20) and their 8- to 13-year-old pre-teens (n=20). Our aim was to study how such caring dataveillance was rationalized within the families, and to explore the dominant parenting values associated with the practice. Relying upon communication privacy management theory, the issues of privacy related to such intimate surveillance were also studied. Three factors relating to the use of tracking technologies were extracted from both parents (Tech-Trusting Parent, Cautious Parent and Careful Authoritarian Parent) and pre-teens (Compliant Child, Autonomous Child, and Privacy-Sensitive Child). Tracking technologies were viewed as parental aids that made it possible to ease anxieties and provide assurance to parents and children alike. Although children did not associate the use of tracking technologies with intrusion on privacy, they expected to have a chance to coordinate their privacy boundaries.

Coping strategies and mental health of adolescents impacted by parental HIV and AIDS in rural South Africa

Objective: The study explored whether orphanhood status as well as coping strategies predicted mental health outcomes in orphans and vulnerable adolescents who participated in an NGO-supported programme in rural South Africa. Method: Participants comprised 175 adolescents (aged 11–18 years) from a low-resource community, and included non-orphans (n = 57), orphans due to AIDS (n = 62) and orphans due to other causes (n = 56). All participants rated themselves on the age-appropriate Youth Self-Report scales and 95 completed the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist (CCSC). Little’s test of data missing completely at random revealed that the CCSC missing data did not display a specific pattern. Results: Active coping negatively predicted internalising, externalising and general psychological problems, while avoidant coping predicted general psychological problems. Orphanhood group status, sex and age did not predict coping strategies used. A higher proportion of orphans by AIDS had elevated scores of internalising problems and all participants on somatic complaints. Conclusions: Active coping strategies minimise the risk for emotional and behavioural problems among the participants. Our findings suggest that agencies and non-governmental organisations that provide services to vulnerable adolescents can facilitate active coping skills to enhance their psychological well-being.

Development of a Decision Aid for Parents Who Elect Tonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

To develop a novel patient decision aid (PtDA) for parents considering tonsillectomy for their children diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and compare it to validated scales related to decision making in this context. These included scales for decisional conflict (DC) and shared decision making (SDM). A parental survey during 2017 to 2018 in a tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology clinic was conducted comparing a validated Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) with a new PtDA that included an SDM scale, parental treatment goals, and knowledge about adenotonsillectomy and OSA. DCS scores range from 0 to 100 with values less than 25 considered to be low DC. The DQ was determined by a score on the PtDA. The PtDA was composed of a knowledge score, SDM score and 5 related values scored along a continuum (these were: resolution of symptoms, avoiding anesthesia, avoiding surgery, avoiding pain/bleeding, and resumption of normal behavior). A high score meant that all answers were consistent with choosing tonsillectomy and imply better DQ. A total of 89 parents or guardians participated in the study. The mean DC score was 4.32 (95% CI: 2.57-6.07). The mean DQ score was 22.69 (95% CI: 21.86-23.51). Mean values score was 5.35 (95% CI: 5.05-5.65). The mean knowledge score was 9.00 (95% CI: 8.60-9.40). SDM score mean was 8.38 (95% CI: 7.85-8.91). Using Spearman's rho, DC versus DQ inversely correlated with a coefficient -.209 via a 2-tailed test (P = .05). Cronbach's alpha for the DQ score was .78. DC scores overall were low for the group. DQ, as measured with the novel PtDA, had an inverse correlation with DC scores, suggesting validity of the proposed PtDA. Our instrument has potential use as a PtDA for parents who are offered tonsillectomy for their children.

Postnatal cranial ontogeny and growth strategies in the black‐tailed gullLarus crassirostrisbreeding on Kabu Island, Aomori, Japan

AbstractAlthough cranial morphology of modern birds has been an important subject of evolutionary studies, detailed information on postnatal ontogeny of the avian skull remains very scarce. Herein, a wild population of the black‐tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) breeding on Kabu Island was examined to explore relationships between their growth strategies and ontogenetic changes in the cranial shape. By examining growth series covering a major part of the postnatal ontogenetic period, it was clarified that the typical form of the adult larid skull was produced through dynamic proportional changes among cranial structures after hatching. Cranial structures related to the oral capacity and deglutition (e.g., some elements of hyoid bones) attained the adult sizes before fledging, whereas other structures apparently reached the adult sizes well after leaving the nest. The palatal width exhibited positively allometric growth against the skull volume in chicks in the early nestling stage, followed by a period of negative allometry in the later growth stage. A nestling gull has to acquire swallowing ability by the time of fledging at the latest because this ability is apparently essential for a food intake without parental aid. In addition, because nestlings mainly feed on foodstuffs supplied by their parents, previous studies suggested the possibility that siblings within a nest compete for food resources. Under this scenario, early acquisition of swallowing abilities, as indicated by the allometric patterns of relevant cranial structures, may be an adaptive trait that enhances survival of nestlings.

Possible Motivations for Learning English amongst Kurdish EFL Undergraduate Learners at the University Level

It can be argued that integrative and instrumental kinds of motivation are two prominent factors in learning new languages. Each kind of motivation works differently in various contexts. Besides, several studies have been investigated in EFL (English as a foreign language), and ESL (English as a second language) settings. There are also external factors that have impacts on different types of motivation and learners. There are also obvious reasons for learning English as a foreign language. This study focused on integrative and instrumental kinds of motivation amongst Kurdish EFL undergraduate learners at the University of Sulaimani in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The finding showed that getting a job is a major motivator for learning English amongst learners. However, cultural and communication goals were two other important goals that encouraged learners to learn English. In general, the results revealed that instrumental motivation was more significant than integrative motivation. Additionally, some elements affected and increased learner's motivation such as parental aids, teachers, social, personality, and university environment.

Effect of Affirmative Actions on Student Permanence at a Brazilian Federal University

The study aims to identify the Affirmative Actions (AAS) promoted among students of business programs at a Brazilian federal university and analyze whether, in the students’ opinion, they meet the fundamental assumptions of the theory of justice. The documentary survey of AA examines student housing, financial aid for student parents, food, transport, permanence, and pedagogical support. Sixty-two respondents took part in the survey. The results show that personal factors, especially those of a psychological nature, adversely affect the permanence and performance of university students. Considering the students’ perception of Rawl’s “equal liberty” and equality of opportunity, the university’s AAS are understood to reflect the assumptions of John Rawls’ theory of justice.

Decision coaching using a patient decision aid for youth and parents considering insulin delivery methods for type 1 diabetes: a pre/post study

BackgroundChoice of insulin delivery for type 1 diabetes can be difficult for many parents and children. We evaluated decision coaching using a patient decision aid for helping youth with type 1 diabetes and parents decide about insulin delivery method.MethodsA pre/post design. Youth and parent(s) attending a pediatric diabetes clinic in a tertiary care centre were referred to the intervention by their pediatric endocrinologist or diabetes physician between September 2013 and May 2015. A decision coach guided youth and their parents in completing a patient decision aid that was pre-populated with evidence on insulin delivery options. Primary outcomes were youth and parent scores on the low literary version of the validated Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS).ResultsForty-five youth (mean age = 12.5 ± 2.9 years) and 66 parents (45.8 ± 5.6 years) participated. From pre- to post-intervention, youth and parent decisional conflict decreased significantly (youth mean DCS score was 32.0 vs 6.6, p < 0.0001; parent 37.6 vs 3.5, p < 0.0001). Youth’s and parents’ mean decisional conflict scores were also significantly improved for DCS subscales (informed, values clarity, support, and certainty). 92% of youth and 94% of parents were satisfied with the decision coaching and patient decision aid. Coaching sessions averaged 55 min. Parents (90%) reported that the session was the right length of time; some youth (16%) reported that it was too long.ConclusionDecision coaching with a patient decision aid reduced decisional conflict for youth and parents facing a decision about insulin delivery method.

Effects of psychosocial interventions on children affected by parental HIV/AIDS: a meta-analysis on depression and anxiety

BackgroundChildren orphaned by parental AIDS or those of parents with HIV infection demonstrate many negative mental health outcomes. Different types of psychosocial interventions have been conducted to improve the psychological well-being of these children. The efficacy of these psychosocial interventions has been reviewed and synthesized recently (Skeena et al., Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 12:91-116, 2017), but not quantified.MethodThis study therefore adopted meta-analytic approach to quantify the efficacy of the existing psychosocial interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms in children affected by parental HIV/AIDS. Eight intervention studies—four randomized controlled trials (RCT) and four pre–post intervention trials—were included.ResultIn general, psychosocial interventions could effectively reduce anxiety or depressive symptoms in children of parents with HIV/AIDS. The overall intervention effect size (Cohen’s d) was 1.298 and 1.100 for depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Publication bias and exploratory moderating effects of study design (RCT vs. pre–post intervention trials), study location, and intervention levels were also analyzed.ConclusionFuture studies reporting the detailed outcome data, which could be used for research integration, are warranted. Further research should also focus on the implementation of evidence-based interventions sensitive to the target population in a developmentally appropriate manner.

Development of an evidence-based decision aid on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and pain for parents of children with cancer

PurposeTo develop an evidence-based decision aid for parents of children with cancer and to help guide them in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer care.MethodsThis study had a mixed research design. The needs of parents were investigated by survey and focus group. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on the effectiveness of CAM using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Clinical experts were interviewed and a decision aid on CAM treatment for pain was developed.ResultsParents emphasized the importance of reliable information on CAM, focusing primarily on communication and a broad spectrum of complaints related to cancer treatment. The decision aid on CAM for pain included five modalities based on 11 randomized control trials (RCTs): hypnotherapy, mind-body techniques, massage, healing touch, and music therapy. Meta-analysis could be performed on hypnotherapy, which significantly reduced cancer-related procedural pain compared with standard care (MD, − 1.37; 95% CI, − 1.60, − 1.15; P < 0.00001) and attention control (MD, − 1.13; 95% CI, − 1.34, − 0.94; P < 0.00001), and massage, demonstrating no effect on pain compared with standard care (MD, − 0.77; 95% CI, − 1.82, 0.28; P = 0.15). Research evidence and supplementary information from clinical practice and patient were incorporated in a website-based decision aid.ConclusionsAn evidence-based decision aid was developed to support parents of children with cancer in making decisions about CAM for pain management. Next steps will be to expand the website to include additional childhood cancer-related complaints and to evaluate its use in practice.

Qualitative research on psychological experience of parents of burned infants during hospitalization

Objective: To understand the psychological experience of parents of burned infants during hospitalization, and to provide basis for formulating feasible targeted treatment and nursing programs. Methods: The mother or father of 15 burned infants admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June to October 2017 were interviewed about their psychological experience during hospitalization of their burned infants one day before the children were expected to be discharged, using the phenomenological method of qualitative research. Data were collected through face to face, semi-structured, and in-depth interviews, and the Colaizzi's analysis method was applied to analyze, induce, and refine themes of interview data. Results: During hospitalization, the parents of burned infants experienced five periods: collapse period, self-blame period, worrying period, stable period, and life belief transition period. Conclusions: The psychological experience of parents of burned infants is similar. Beginning with emotional collapse and self-blame, their psychological fluctuations gradually stabilize later. Medical staff should strengthen the psychological assessment and offer timely intervention to parents of burned infants, and it is extremely urgent to popularize knowledge related to burn prevention and first aid for parents of infants.

Piloting a parent and patient decision aid to support clinical trial decision making in childhood cancer.

Families of a child with cancer can find the decision to enrol in a clinical trial challenging and often misunderstand key concepts that underpin trials. We pilot tested "Delta," an online and booklet decision aid for parents with a child with cancer, and adolescents with cancer, deciding whether or not to enrol in a clinical trial. We developed Delta in accordance with the International Patient Decision Aid Standards. We conducted a pre-post pilot with parents with a child, and adolescents, who had enrolled in a paediatric phase III clinical trial for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Parents (n=37) and adolescents (n=3) completed a questionnaire before and after using Delta (either the website or booklet, based on their preference). Twenty-three parents (62.2%) and three adolescents (100%) reviewed the Delta website. Parents rated Delta as highly acceptable in regard to being clearly presented, informative, easy to read, useful, visually appealing, and easy to use. All participants reported that they would recommend Delta to others and that it would have been useful when making their decision. Parents' subjective (Mdiff= 10.8, SDdiff =15.69, P<.001) and objective (OR=2.25, 95% CI, 1.66-3.04; P<.001) clinical trial knowledge increased significantly after reviewing Delta. To our knowledge, Delta is the first reported decision aid, available online and as a booklet, for parents and adolescents deciding whether or not to enrol in a paediatric oncology clinical trial. Our study suggests that Delta is acceptable, feasible, and potentially useful.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

The authors have provided a unique perspective on the management vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) that incorporates parental preferences regarding various aspects of treatment options. They utilized an innovative, crowd-sourced approach to recruit a national sample of parents online who presumably did not have any “real-world” experience with VUR. Many readers may question whether the wisdom of crowds should supplant the experience of those who have actually dealt with a given scenario in their own children. Previous studies in political science, economics, and psychology, however, have confirmed the external and internal validity of a similar approach to subject recruitment. 1 Berinsky AJ H.G. Lenz J.S. Evaluating online labor markets for experimental research: Amazon.com's mechanical turk. Polit Anal. 2012; 20: 351-368 Google Scholar , 2 Buhrmester MD K.T. Gosling S.D. Amazon's mechanical turk: a new source of inexpensive, yet high-quality, data?. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2011; 6: 3-5 Google Scholar , 3 Horton JJ R.D. Zeckhauser R.J. The online laboratory: conducting experiments in a real labor market. Exp Econ. 2011; 14: 399-425 Google Scholar In addition, the description of a “preference model” in the current study is a precursor to the development of a decision aid for parents of children with VUR. The authors have presented a type of “values clarification exercise” that the International Patient Decision Aids Collaboration considers a key component of patient decision aids. 4 Sepucha K.R. Abhyankar P. Hoffman A.S. Bekker H.L. LeBlanc A. Levin C.A. et al. Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluation studies: the development of SUNDAE Checklist. BMJ Qual Saf. 2018; 27: 380-388 Crossref PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar Decision aids are tools designed to help people make informed, values-based choices about their healthcare options in partnership with their providers. 5 Volk R.J. Coulter A. Advancing the science of patient decision aids through reporting guidelines. BMJ Qual Saf. 2018; 27: 337-339 Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar Shared decision-making represents the state of the art in counseling patients faced with difficult or uncertain medical decisions and its implementation has been widely encouraged by The American Urologic Association. 6 Makarov DV C.K. Gore J.L. Maranchie J. Nielson M.E. Saigal C. Tessier C. Fagerlin A. AUA white paper on implementation of shared decision making into Urological practice. Urol Pract. 2016; 3: 355-363 Google Scholar The current study is an important contribution to the pediatric urologic literature because it will have future implications for the dissemination of shared decision-making and the development of decision aids in our field.