Clinical trial NCT00595010: Effectiveness of a Multi-Component Evidence-Based Parent Training Program in Reducing Child Maltreatment
Official title: Developing Multi-Component Evidence Based Practice in Child Abuse Service Systems
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Child Abuse
Keywords: Child Maltreatment
Child Neglect
Child Physical Abuse
Evidence-Based Practice
Lead sponsor: University of Oklahoma
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2008-01-16
Enrollment: 26
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: This study will determine the effectiveness of a complex parent training program, based on the SafeCare model, in reducing the occurrence of child maltreatment.

Detailed description: Child maltreatment is the general term used to characterize all forms of child abuse, including neglect and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. These forms of maltreatment can lead to a large number of child developmental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. As adults, children who are maltreated are more prone to unhealthy behaviors and conditions, such as drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, eating disorders, and depression. A previous study found that Project SafeCare, a treatment program that provides parent training to families with children who were at risk for or victims of maltreatment, resulted in fewer child welfare reports. Participants in Project SafeCare reported improvements in child healthcare, home safety, and parent-child relations. However, the study suggested that the SafeCare program may not be equally effective in decreasing the occurrence of all forms of child maltreatment, particularly child physical abuse. This study will determine the effectiveness of a complex evidence-based practice program, extending upon the SafeCare program, in reducing the occurrence of physical abuse and other forms of child maltreatment.

Participants in this study will receive services from Oklahoma Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS), a program provided to families with issues of child abuse and neglect. Upon entry into the CHBS program, participants will undergo a computerized interview, lasting between 1 and 2 hours. The interview will include questions about family strengths and weaknesses, personal beliefs, substance abuse history, and opinion on CHBS. This computerized interview will be repeated at the end of treatment, approximately 6 to 12 months later. During the first few weeks of CHBS, an agent will make five visits to the homes of participants to observe pretreatment family life. Treatment services will concentrate on improving healthcare skills, parent-child interactions, and safety in homes and will specifically address ways to reduce physical abuse and other identified family issues. Study participation will continue for 12 months after completion of CHBS. Study researchers will obtain child welfare reports from the Department of Human Services (DHS) for up to 10 years after completion of CHBS.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Enrolled in Oklahoma Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS)
* Child referred by Office of Community Services

Exclusion Criteria:

* Primary referral of sexual abuse
* Primary referral goal to maintain permanent placement

Primary outcomes:
measure: Fidelity of service provider
timeFrame: Measured throughout study
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Parent behavior
timeFrame: Measured at baseline and at some point between Months 6 and 12
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Oklahoma
name: Debra B. Hecht, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: