Impact Evaluation of the Baby Newsletter

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Not-randomized controlled study to evaluate a community intervention to promote self-efficacy parenting. The treated group will be composed by all newborns resident in S.Ilario d'Enza (105 in 2013) where the Baby Newsletter is implemented. Newborns resident in the Health District of Montecchio and born in Montecchio Hospital in the same period are the control group (278 in 2013). Preterm or hospitalized children are excluded. Self-efficacy parenting is evaluated through a questionnaire administered at baseline, after 5 and 12 months.

Detailed Description
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Background The importance of promoting parenting skills is worldwide recognized and, in Italy, different projects are implemented in order to develop these competences. The impact of these experiences is rarely evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the improvement in self-efficacy parenting produced by an intervention which consists in sending to every new parents, during the first year of life of their son, eight newsletters with advices and recommendations on child care and development (project Baby Newsletter). Methods Not-randomized controlled study to evaluate a community intervention to promote self-efficacy parenting. The treated group will be composed by all newborns resident in S.Ilario d'Enza (105 in 2013) where the Baby Newsletter is implemented. Newborns resident in the Health District of Montecchio and born in Montecchio Hospital in the same period are the control group (278 in 2013). Preterm or hospitalized children are excluded. Self-efficacy parenting is evaluated through the TOPSE (Tool to measure Parenting Self-Efficacy) questionnaire administered at baseline, in Montecchio Birth Unit or at the paediatric clinics, and at the vaccination appointments after 5 and 12 months.

Official Title
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Impact Evaluation of the Baby Newsletter Project: an Intervention to Improve Parenting Self-efficacy in the First Year of Newborn's Life

Conditions
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Parenting

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Baby Newsletter


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: being parent of a child born during the study enrollment period and resident in the Montecchio Health District good comprehension of Italian language Exclusion Criteria: delivering in other facilities than the Montecchio hospitals (only for controls) parents of newborns with pathological conditions at born parents of newborns that were transferred to another hospital immediately after born due to clinical reasons parents of pre-term newborns
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Intervention<br>Intervention aimed at improving self-efficacy parenting which consists in sending to new parents, during the first year of life of their son, eight newsletters with advices and recommendations on child care and development (project Baby Newsletter). | Behavioral: Baby Newsletter<br>* eight newsletters sent home to newborns' parents with advices and recommendations on child care and development<br>|
| Control<br>Usual care | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parenting score on the scale emotion and affection | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score on the scale play and enjoyment | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score on the scale empathy and understanding | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score control | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score on the scale discipline and setting boundaries | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score pressures | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score self-acceptance | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 
| Parenting score on the scale learning and knowledge | score based on 6 items of TOPSE questionnaire | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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newsletter, community intervention