Cluster Randomised Trial of a Hybrid Human-digital Playful Parenting Programme in the Malaysian Preschool System
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Oxford
- Enrollment
- 772
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid human-digital playful parenting programme, "Naungan Kasih-Hybrid (NK-Hybrid)", in Malaysia. The programme is facilitated by teachers from Malaysian preschools for low-income families, consisting of a) one in-person session to introduce caregivers to the programme, b) teacher-facilitated WhatsApp support groups, and c) an interactive chatbot-led parenting programme featured on WhatsApp, called "Naungan Kasih-Text (NKText)". It tests the effectiveness of this package in a cluster-randomised trial, with 50 preschools as clusters, randomly assigned to either the treatment group or a waitlist control group. Findings from this study will provide evidence for the effectiveness of a low-cost and scalable intervention integrating digital modalities with a "light-touch" in-person component to improve educational outcomes in children attending preschools for low-income families, and thereby address social inequalities in Malaysia.
N = 50 Clusters, 772 Primary Caregivers, 304 Secondary Caregivers, and 754 Children. Enrolment reflects participating primary caregivers.
Detailed Description
The primary aims of the study are to:
Evaluate the effectiveness of NK-Hybrid on positive parenting at three months post-baseline in comparison to wait-list controls Evaluate the effectiveness of NK-Hybrid on child learning and development, as measured by parent and teacher reports of language and communication, literacy, socioemotional, and numeracy skills, and by direct assessments of literacy and numeracy skills, at approximately 12 months post-baseline in comparison to wait-list controls
Secondary aims of the study include:
Evaluate the sustained effectiveness of NK-Hybrid on positive parenting at approximately 12 months post-baseline.
Evaluate the effectiveness of NK-Hybrid on children's learning, namely their literacy and numeracy skills, in comparison to the control group, at three months post-baseline Evaluate the effectiveness of NK-Hybrid on secondary outcomes - parent involvement in playful learning, child maltreatment (physical and emotional abuse), caregiver anxiety and depression, parenting stress, child externalising symptoms, child learning and development, caregiver financial stress, intimate partner violence, marital health, co-parenting support, father involvement, and gender equitable behaviours - at approximately three months post-baseline and 12 months post-baseline.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
The trial statisticians (GJMT, SV) conducting randomisation and analyses will be blinded to condition. Blinding of participants is not possible given the nature of the intervention. Enumerators are blinded at baseline assessments (T0) and will remain blinded at the endline (T1) and follow-up (T2) assessments, although it is plausible that they may find out from participants which individuals received the intervention.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Preschools (clusters):
- •Registered Ministry of Rural Development (KEMAS) preschool
- •Has a class of 20 or more children aged 4-6 years
- •Selected by KEMAS leadership as available to participate
- •Class teacher is willing to deliver the programme and participates in programme training
- •Parents/Caregivers:
- •Responsible for a child aged 4-6 years enrolled in a participating KEMAS preschool
- •Aged 18 years or older
- •Has access to a mobile phone compatible with WhatsApp
- •Provides informed consent
- •Enrolled in a participating KEMAS preschool
- •Aged 4-6 years
- •Parent provides consent
- •Provides verbal assent
- •Teachers (Facilitators):
- •Registered employee with a KEMAS preschool
- •Aged 18 years or older
- •Diploma/certificate in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or equivalent
- •Provides consent
- •Completed training
- •Available to deliver intervention
Exclusion Criteria
- •Parents/caregivers who do not meet inclusion criteria
- •Children who do not meet inclusion criteria
Investigators
DrJamieLachman
Professor
University of Oxford