Clinical trial NCT03185728: iLook Out for Child Abuse: An Innovative Learning Module for Childcare Providers
Official title: iLook Out for Child Abuse: An Innovative Learning Module for Childcare Providers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Child Abuse
Keywords: Child Abuse
Mandated Reporting
Online Learning
Child Protection
GAMIFICATION
Early Childhood Education
Lead sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: University of Oklahoma
name: Penn State University
name: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
First posted: 2017-06-14
Enrollment: 2059
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SEQUENTIAL
Intervention model description: Childcare sites will be randomized to one of 3 study arms, and we will use a stepped wedge design to recruit patients to complete one of two interventions. During the first year of implementation, 1/3 of participants will not be contacted (Control arm). In the other 2 arms, participants will be recruited to complete either the iLookOut intervention or the Standard online mandated reporter training. The next year, participants in the Standard arm will then be asked to complete the iLookOut intervention, and participants in the Control arm will, again, not be incentivized to complete any training. In the final year, participants in the Control arm will be recruited to complete the iLookOut intervention.
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This five-year study aims to improve childcare provider (CCP) reporting of suspected child abuse by means of an online learning module, iLook Out for Child Abuse. Using an interactive, video-based story-line (along with follow-up activities), iLookOut engages CCPs emotionally and intellectually to take the first step in addressing the epidemic of child abuse -which in the U.S. claims \>680,000 confirmed victims annually. The consequences of child abuse can be devastating and long-lasting. The purpose of this study is to establish an evidence-based intervention that can help those who care for young children recognize and report suspected child abuse before irreparable harm occurs.

Detailed description: This 5-year study will evaluate the efficacy of an innovative educational intervention, iLook Out for Child Abuse (iLookOut) for increasing rates of accurate child abuse reporting. Grounded in an Experiential Learning conceptual model, iLookOut is a multi-media, online intervention that engages learners emotionally and intellectually through an interactive, video-based story-line that provides education, challenges learners with decision-points, and gives critical feedback. iLookOut uses "gamification" strategies to promote experiential learning through simulation, problem-solving, and practice opportunities to apply new information and understanding. It also will include follow-up activities that promote retention and integration of new knowledge, as well as help CCPs to remain aware and engaged.

Prior studies have demonstrated that iLookOut significantly improves CCP knowledge and attitudes about reporting suspected child abuse, and is very well received by CCPs. To evaluate its impact on actual reporting behavior, the proposed research will randomize CCP sites in southern Maine (total = \~1,300) to receive iLookOut, Standard training, or Control (no intervention).

The primary goal is to increase the number of CCP reports for which either child abuse is confirmed or social services (e.g., therapeutic services, nutritional assistance) are recommended -as these are the kinds of reports that are likely to actually benefit a child.

The secondary goal is to decrease the proportion of reports that don't offer such benefit, and in particular to decrease costs to the state associated with intake and investigation of non-beneficial reports.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Works or volunteers at a childcare facility in Maine (i.e., home-based childcare, childcare center, Head Start facility, nursery school, pre-school)
* 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

* Does not work or volunteer at a childcare facility in Maine
* Under 18 years of age

Primary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of "High Quality" reports of suspected child abuse submitted to the State of Maine by childcare providers
timeFrame: 48 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of reports of suspected child abuse submitted to the State of Maine by childcare providers that are "Low Quality"
timeFrame: 48 months
measure: Financial costs (in U.S. dollars) associated with responding to "Low Quality" reports of suspected abuse that are submitted to the State of Maine by childcare providers
timeFrame: 48 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hershey
country: United States
facility: Penn State College of Medicine
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center / Penn State College of Medicine
name: Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Walsh K, Eggins E, Hine L, Mathews B, Kenny MC, Howard S, Ayling N, Dallaston E, Pink E, Vagenas D. Child protection training for professionals to improve reporting of child abuse and neglect. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Jul 5;7(7):CD011775. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011775.pub2.