Online Parenting Program for Families of Middle School Students

(FCO Trial)

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

2000 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications, but it seems unlikely since the study focuses on an online parenting program.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Family Check-Up Online?

Research shows that the Family Check-Up Online program, especially with coaching support, helps reduce emotional problems in children and boosts parents' confidence and self-efficacy. Additionally, online parent programs in general have been found to significantly improve children's behavioral and emotional issues and enhance parental mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Online Parenting Program for Families of Middle School Students safe for participants?

The research does not provide specific safety data for the Online Parenting Program or Family Check-Up Online, but similar internet-based parent training programs have been found feasible and generally safe for use, especially among low-income parents. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How is the Family Check-Up Online treatment different from other treatments for middle school students?

The Family Check-Up Online treatment is unique because it is an online, family-centered program designed to improve parenting skills and reduce children's behavioral and emotional problems. It includes coaching support and is accessible through the internet, making it feasible for schools with limited resources and during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{1 2 5 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the benefits of the Family Check-Up Online Program for parents of middle school students in Arizona. Participants will complete an online pre-survey, gain access to the online parenting program Family Check-Up, and have the option to meet with a coach to discuss the program. The participants will also complete a post-survey 3 months after enrollment.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents with a child in grades 6-8 at Title 1 public schools in Arizona. It's designed to help them through an online parenting program called Family Check-Up, which includes optional coaching sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent of a child in grades 6-8 at a Title 1 public school.

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Pre-survey and Program Access

Participants complete an online pre-survey and gain access to the Family Check-Up Online Program

1 week

1 visit (online)

Program Participation

Participants engage with the Family Check-Up Online Program and have the option to meet with a coach for guidance

12 weeks

1-3 visits (virtual, optional)

Post-survey

Participants complete a post-survey to assess outcomes of the program

1 week

1 visit (online)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in parenting practices and reductions in emotional distress

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Family Check-Up Online

Trial Overview The trial tests the Family Check-Up Online Program's effectiveness for parents of middle schoolers. Participants will fill out surveys before and after accessing the program and can choose to discuss it with a coach.

Participant Groups

Group I: Informational Support Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents will be told that they have the option of contacting an informational support specialist any point while completing the program to address questions and discuss the program. Parents will be informed that their questions can be addressed via e-mail or alternatively they can schedule a time to talk with their coach via phone or Zoom. The informational support specialist will not initiate contact with parents in this condition.

Group II: Guidance Coaching Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents will be informed that they have been assigned a guidance coach who will contact them via email to schedule 1-3 check-in meetings over the phone or via Zoom while they complete the online program. These meetings are structured to help establish parental goals for the program, offer emotional support, and help motivate parents to implement new parenting skills. During these contacts, coaches use motivational interviewing techniques to help promote and support behavioral change. These coaching contacts are designed to be brief and focused, and typically last for less than 30 minutes. Coach contacts are scheduled based on the parents' availability and interest, and additional coaching sessions can be requested by the parent at any point during the program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

2,000+

Findings from Research

A study involving 160 low-income parents showed that most had good access to the internet and were comfortable using it, indicating a strong potential for internet-based parent training programs.

In a pilot study with 89 parents, while there was high initial interest in an online parenting program, only 9% reported frequent use, highlighting the need for strategies to encourage deeper engagement with the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Internet-based Parent Training for Low-income Parents of Young Children. McGoron, L., Hvizdos, E., Bocknek, EL., et al.[2019]

In a study involving parents of preschoolers from 17 Maryland child care centers, it was found that parents who identified as non-Hispanic White and had higher education levels engaged more with a wellness intervention website, showing more webpage views and completing more activities.

The findings highlight demographic disparities in website engagement, suggesting that these differences could lead to health inequities in access to wellness information, indicating a need for targeted strategies to improve engagement among underrepresented groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Website Engagement and Health Equity Implications in a Child Care-Based Wellness Intervention. Ezran, M., Trude, ACB., Hepworth, AD., et al.[2022]

Digital health interventions, such as mobile apps and electronic health records, can enhance patient safety for children and their parents by providing preventive measures and risk management strategies, as identified in a scoping review of 13 studies.

These interventions can improve the continuity of care from hospitalization to home, thereby increasing children's safety and quality of care through better engagement with healthcare providers after discharge.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital health intervention on patient safety for children and parents: A scoping review. Park, J., Jeon, H., Choi, EK.[2023]

A qualitative study involving caregivers of pediatric patients revealed that a game-based strategy effectively engaged parents in understanding and promoting patient safety actions.

The game not only facilitated knowledge transfer about patient safety but also positively changed caregivers' perceptions and behaviors, encouraging them to be more active participants in their child's care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ludic strategy for promoting engagement of parents and caregivers in the safety of pediatric patients. Gonçalves, KMM., Costa, MTTCA., Silva, DCB., et al.[2021]

A web-based program significantly improved parents' knowledge and self-efficacy regarding youth mental health issues, as demonstrated in a study with 99 participants randomized into intervention and control groups.

The results suggest that such multimedia programs can effectively equip parents with the skills needed for early intervention in mental health problems, making them accessible in various settings like workplaces.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A web-based mental health program: reaching parents at work. Deitz, DK., Cook, RF., Billings, DW., et al.[2022]

References

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

Evaluating the efficacy of the Family Check-Up Online: A school-based, eHealth model for the prevention of problem behavior during the middle school years. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Internet-based Parent Training for Low-income Parents of Young Children. [2019]

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

Therapeutic alliance as a predictor of behavioral outcomes in a relationally focused, family-centered telehealth intervention. [2022]

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

Online Family Problem Solving for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Influences of Parental Marital Status and Participation on Adolescent Outcomes. [2022]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Online parent programs for children's behavioral problems: a meta-analytic review. [2020]

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

Parent Website Engagement and Health Equity Implications in a Child Care-Based Wellness Intervention. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital health intervention on patient safety for children and parents: A scoping review. [2023]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parental concerns and medical-seeking behavior after immunization. [2018]

9. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ludic strategy for promoting engagement of parents and caregivers in the safety of pediatric patients. [2021]

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

A web-based mental health program: reaching parents at work. [2022]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Efficacy of the Family Check-Up Online to Improve Parent Mental Health and Family Functioning in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2023]