Simkiss, Douglas E., Snooks, Helen, Stallard, Nigel, Davies, Shan, Thomas, Marie A., Anthony, Becky, Winstanley, Sarah, Wilson, Lynsey and Stewart-Brown, Sarah L. (2010) Measuring the impact and costs of a universal group based parenting programme : protocol and implementation of a trial. BMC Public Health, Vol.10 . Article 364. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-364

PDF WRAP_Simkiss_measuring_impact.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (616Kb)

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Background
Sub-optimal parenting is a common risk factor for a wide range of negative health, social and educational outcomes. Most parenting programmes have been developed in the USA in the context of delinquency prevention for targeted or indicated groups and the main theoretical underpinning for these programmes is behaviour management. The Family Links Nurturing Programme (FLNP) focuses on family relationships as well as behaviour management and is offered on a universal basis. As a result it may be better placed to improve health and educational outcomes. Developed in the UK voluntary sector, FLNP is popular with practitioners, has impressed policy makers throughout the UK, has been found to be effective in before/after and qualitative studies, but lacks a randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence base.

Methods/Design
A multi-centre, investigator blind, randomised controlled trial of the FLNP with a target sample of 288 south Wales families who have a child aged 2-4 yrs living in or near to Flying Start/Sure Start areas. Changes in parenting, parent child relations and parent and child wellbeing are assessed with validated measures immediately and at 6 months post intervention. Economic components include cost consequences and cost utility analyses based on parental ranking of states of quality of life. Attendance and completion rates and fidelity to the FLNP course delivery are assessed. A nested qualitative study will assess reasons for participation and non-participation and the perceived value of the programme to families. By the end of May 2010, 287 families have been recruited into the trial across four areas of south Wales. Recruitment has not met the planned timescales with barriers including professional anxiety about families entering the control arm of the trial, family concern about video and audio recording, programme facilitator concern about the recording of FLNP sessions for fidelity purposes and delays due to the new UK research governance procedures.

Discussion
Whilst there are strong theoretical arguments to support universal provision of parenting programmes, few universal programmes have been subjected to randomised controlled trials. In this paper we describe a RCT protocol with quantitative and qualitative outcome measures and an economic evaluation designed to provide clear evidence with regard to effectiveness and costs. We describe challenges implementing the protocol and how we are addressing these.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Parent and child -- Wales, South, Juvenile delinquents -- Family relationships
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Public Health
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-2458
Official Date:	23 June 2010
Dates:	Date Event 23 June 2010 Published
Volume:	Vol.10
Page Range:	Article 364
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2458-10-364
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Wales. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff (Wales). County Council, Torfaen (Wales). County Borough Council, Newport (Gwent, Wales). City Council, Caerphilly (Wales). County Borough Council

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads