iLook Out Online Module for Child Abuse

(iLookOut Trial)

Overseen By Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Under 18 years

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

35000 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial evaluates an online course that teaches childcare workers how to recognize and report suspected child abuse. It targets early childhood professionals to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness in reporting child abuse.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How is the iLookOut for Child Abuse treatment different from other treatments for child abuse prevention?

iLookOut for Child Abuse is unique because it is an interactive, online learning program specifically designed for early childhood professionals to improve their ability to identify and report suspected child abuse. Unlike traditional in-person training, it uses innovative methods like mastery learning and spaced retrieval to enhance knowledge retention and application. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD

Principal Investigator

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center / Penn State College of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for paid or volunteer staff at childcare facilities who are 18 years of age or older. It's designed to help early childhood professionals understand and respond to suspected child abuse.

Inclusion Criteria

Paid or volunteer staff at childcare facility

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase 1: Test-Retest Model

Participants engage with the iLookOut online learning module to evaluate its impact on knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness regarding reporting suspected child abuse.

Varies (self-paced)

Phase 2: Open-Enrollment Study

Open-enrollment study recording pre-/post-data on knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness regarding reporting suspected child abuse, available to all childcare providers in Pennsylvania.

48 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in knowledge and attitudes regarding reporting suspected child abuse, with some repeating measures 3-6 months post-intervention.

3-6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• iLook Out for Child Abuse

Trial Overview The iLookOut online learning module is being tested for its effectiveness in increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, and boosting preparedness among childcare providers regarding reporting suspected child abuse.

Participant Groups

Group I: iLook Out for Child Abuse Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The online learning module is an interactive, multi-media, self-paced intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

515

Recruited

2,873,000+

Findings from Research

The iLookOut training program significantly improved knowledge about child abuse among early childcare professionals, especially for those with lower baseline knowledge, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing understanding and reporting of abuse cases.

Implementation outcomes, such as the acceptability and appropriateness of the training, were crucial for knowledge gains, particularly for female learners and those with less formal education, suggesting that tailoring the training to different demographics could optimize its impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying what works for whom: Implementation outcomes following iLookOut, a child abuse identification and referral training program. Barnett, WC., Panlilio, CC., Mullins, C., et al.[2023]

The iLookOut for Child Abuse program is an interactive online learning tool aimed at helping early childhood professionals recognize and respond to potential child abuse, enhancing their ability to protect children.

This program addresses the complex issue of child abuse by providing targeted training and resources, which can improve the skills of childcare providers in identifying and managing abuse concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAM ON CHILD ABUSE AND ITS REPORTING. Levi, BH., Mundy, M., Palm, C., et al.[2022]

The E-Learning courses developed for health professionals significantly increased knowledge and practical skills in child protection, as shown by randomized controlled trials conducted with participants from October 2016 to September 2017.

Participants reported high satisfaction with the course content and structure, indicating that these online courses effectively prepare professionals to enhance child protection standards in medical institutions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and randomized controlled trial evaluation of E-learning trainings for professionals. König, E., Maier, A., Fegert, JM., et al.[2020]

The 'iLookOut' training program for mandated reporters of child abuse is designed using advanced educational theories, including mastery learning and self-determination theory, to enhance the effectiveness of online learning.

The program incorporates spaced retrieval and retrieval practice in its follow-up micro-learning, which helps reinforce the knowledge gained in the Core Training, making it a comprehensive approach to training in child abuse reporting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COGNITIVE MAPPING FOR ILOOKOUT FOR CHILD ABUSE: AN ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS. Kapp, KM., Dore, S., Fiene, R., et al.[2022]

The shift to e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity to implement child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention education online, which has been shown to increase knowledge and protective behaviors among children.

While e-learning can enhance accessibility and engagement in CSA prevention education, it may also hinder crucial interactions between children and trained instructors that facilitate disclosures, highlighting the need for further research to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Moving school-based CSA prevention education online: Advantages and challenges of the "new normal". Bright, MA., Ortega, D., Finkelhor, D., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying what works for whom: Implementation outcomes following iLookOut, a child abuse identification and referral training program. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAM ON CHILD ABUSE AND ITS REPORTING. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and randomized controlled trial evaluation of E-learning trainings for professionals. [2020]

4. Turkey pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COGNITIVE MAPPING FOR ILOOKOUT FOR CHILD ABUSE: AN ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Moving school-based CSA prevention education online: Advantages and challenges of the "new normal". [2022]