Smart Parents--Safe and Healthy Kids

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the proposed study is to assess the effectiveness of the addition of a single-session child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention module (Smart Parents - Safe and Healthy Kids) on improving parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding CSA prevention for parents already receiving parent-education services. The investigators hypothesize that parents who receive the parenting curriculum and the CSA prevention module will (a) demonstrate significant improvement in CSA-related awareness (i.e., knowledge, attitudes) and protective behaviors from pre-test to post-test, and (b) demonstrate higher scores on CSA-related awareness and protective behaviors as compared to parents who only receive the parenting curriculum.

Official Title
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Smart Parents--Safe and Healthy Kids: Small RCT

Conditions
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Child Sexual Abuse

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Smart Parents - Safe and Healthy Kids
* Behavioral: Parents as Teachers


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Parent or caregiver > 18 years old Parent or caregiver of at least one child under 13 Enrolled in PAT Exclusion Criteria: Parent/caregiver does not speak English Parent is mandated (i.e., court-ordered) to attend parent-training program

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: PAT-AU<br>Parents randomized to this arm (i.e., group) receive Parents as Teachers (PAT) services as usual (AU). | Behavioral: Parents as Teachers<br>* Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a parent-support program delivered to parents of children under five and focuses on improving parenting skills through parent-child interactions, development centered parenting, and general well-being. PAT has demonstrated positive effects on child and parent outcomes related to school readiness.<br>|
| Experimental: PAT+CSA<br>Parents randomized to this arm (i.e., group) receive the added CSA-focused session (Smart Parents - Safe and Healthy Kids) added to typical Parents as Teachers (PAT). | Behavioral: Smart Parents - Safe and Healthy Kids<br>* Smart Parents - Safe and Healthy Kids (SPHSK) is a module designed to be added to existing evidence-based parent education programs. Because the module builds off of the core parenting skills developed in existing parent education programs, the module can be delivered in one session. SPSHK is comprised of three key CSA-prevention components: healthy child sexual development, parent-child communication about sex and sexual behaviors, and CSA-specific safety strategies such as vetting a babysitter and monitoring one-on-one time with adults. Behaviorally based, the module presents developmentally comprehensive information to parents of children 0-13 and utilizes role-playing scenarios and activities to maximize parents' use of learned skills.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in SmartParents' Knowledge (ASK): Awareness Factor | This factor measures change in parents' self-reported knowledge of CSA and positive attitudes toward CSA prevention, operationally defined henceforth as 'awareness' | through study completion, an average of 14 weeks | 
| Change in SmartParents' Knowledge (ASK): Protective Behaviors Factor | This factor measures change in parents' self-reported use of protective behaviors to limit risk for CSA. | through study completion, an average of 14 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire: Involvement | e.g., You ask your child about his/her day in school | through study completion, an average of 14 weeks | 
| Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire: Positive Parenting | e.g., You hug or kiss your child when he/she does something well | through study completion, an average of 14 weeks | 
| Change in Alabama Parenting Questionnaire: Inconsistent Discipline | e.g., The punishment you give your child depends on your mood | through study completion, an average of 14 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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child sexual abuse, prevention, parenting, intervention science