Online Parent Training for Children With Behavior Disorders

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Parenting; Delinquency
• Interventions: Behavioral: Parenting Wisely

• Registration Number: NCT01861158
• Lead Sponsor: Family Works Incorporated

Brief Summary

This study evaluates Parenting Wisely (PW), an interactive, computer-based, online parenting program, through a formal randomized trial conducted in collaboration with the juvenile justice system (JJS), the primary market for such a program. Parents of 450 delinquent receiving JJS services as usual (SAU) will be randomly assigned to: PW plus a social networking online discussion forum, PW alone, or SAU. The investigators will also determine the potential marketability of the PW intervention to JJS programs based on the effects of PW on parent report and direct observation measures of parenting behaviors, adolescent behaviors, and family functioning, as well as measures of recidivism and cost savings. User satisfaction, program comprehension, receptivity, and parent self-efficacy will also be assessed. The investigators hypothesize that the two PW interventions (PW only and PW + Social Network) will produce greater reductions in disruptive behavior problems from baseline to 3- and 6-month assessments compared to SAU.

Detailed Description

Research has shown that parent-targeted interventions are effective in ameliorating adolescent conduct disorders, substance abuse, HIV-risk, and related adolescent problem behaviors. The meteoric rise of Internet use and recent advance in multimedia technology and software combine to create new opportunities for disseminating evidence-based practices. Parenting Wisely (PW; Gordon, 2000) is a computer-based intervention designed to prevent and treat child disruptive behavior problems. This evidence-based approach fits easily into existing juvenile justice, health, education, and mental health service delivery systems, bypassing many of the current barriers to care. The investigators' Phase I study focused on revising and enhancing PW with more culturally relevant content and imagery to broaden its appeal to ethnically diverse populations. The findings revealed substantial improvements on virtually all measures of parenting and child behavior and outcomes at 6 months were highly significant and clinically meaningful. This Phase II study is designed to broaden the appeal and potential reach of PW through a formal randomized trial conducted in collaboration with the juvenile justice system (JJS), the primary market for such a program. Parents of 450 delinquent receiving JJS services as usual (SAU) will be randomly assigned to: PW plus a social networking online discussion forum, PW alone, or SAU. PW is the first online skill-building parent training program to examine effectiveness across different ethnic cultural groups and offers a brief, low cost, accessible approach that could be easily and quickly implemented and sustained in JJS settings. As such, the potential impact for marketing PW and reducing child behavior problems is considerable. Phase II activities will include the development of a moderated online forum to increase parental social support and skill acquisition. The investigators will also determine the potential marketability of the PW intervention to JJS programs based on the effects of PW on parent report and direct observation measures of parenting behaviors, adolescent behaviors, and family functioning, as well as measures of recidivism and cost savings. User satisfaction, program comprehension, receptivity, and parent self-efficacy will also be assessed.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-09
• Study First Submitted: 2013-05-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-05-21
• Study First Posted: 2013-05-23
• Primary Completion: 2015-06
• Study Completion: 2015-06
• Status Verified: 2017-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-02-13
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 306

Inclusion Criteria

• Parent of a 12-17 year old adolescent who has been referred to the juvenile justice system for a legal offense (at least one police-generated report)
• Adolescent has been referred by a participating county in Oregon or Nevada
• Parent and adolescent live together at least 40% of the time

Exclusion Criteria

• Parent has already enrolled or completed the study for another adolescent
• Read and speak a language other than English or Spanish

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Parenting Wisely + Community Forum	Parenting Wisely	Immediate access to the online Parenting Wisely program, as well as access to a community form where parents can receive social support from other online users of the program and a moderator
Parenting Wisely	Parenting Wisely	Immediate access to the online Parenting Wisely program

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parenting skills and knowledge	Change from baseline to 6-month follow-up	Online questionnaire measures (Family Assessment Device, Parenting Scale, Parenting Knowledge Test, Parent Sense of Competence, Social Support for Parenting)
Child behavioral changes	Change from baseline to 6-month follow-up	Online questionnaires (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Strengths \& Difficulties Questionnaire).; Juvenile justice recidivism data for youth of the enrolled parents (e.g., new charges)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Satisfaction with the Parenting Wisely program	3 months following baseline	Online questionnaires about program usability and user satisfaction: System Usability Scale and questions specific to parents' experiences with PW.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oregon Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Portland, Oregon, United States