An online positive parenting skills programme for paediatric traumatic brain injury: feasibility and parental satisfaction

Abstract

We examined the feasibility of and parental satisfaction with a training programme for parents with children who had suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI). Families who did not have a home computer and/or webcam were loaned the necessary equipment. Skype was used for videoconferencing. After the initial treatment session in the family's home, the remaining nine sessions were conducted online. Each session had two parts: (1) a self-guided web session with information about a particular skill; (2) a videoconference session with the therapist. Three of the 20 families (15%) dropped out prior to the final 6-month follow-up visit. Of the remaining 17 families, 13 (65% of those enrolled) completed 9-14 sessions. Almost all of the caregivers (87%) said that the Skype sessions were helpful compared to a conventional office visit. Almost all parents were satisfied with the programme and the technology that was used. Parental satisfaction with the programme was not influenced by prior computer ownership or comfort with technology. The programme appears to be feasible for a wide range of parents of children with TBI and provides an alternative to conventional office-based sessions that may not be accessible to all families.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as a Family-Focused Approach for Young Children with Traumatic Brain Injury

“…However, they demonstrated high intervention completion rates (71%) consistent with, and in some cases higher than, other PCIT studies (e.g., Antonini et al, 2012;Boggs et al, 2005;Schuhmann et al, 1998;Werba & Eyberg, 2006). Moreover, completion rates for the current study fare well relative to other evidenced-based parent training programs with attrition rates approaching 50% (Reyno & McGrath, 2006), and family-focused TBI interventions with attrition rates between 56% and 76% (Antonini et al, 2014(Antonini et al, , 2012. Notably, caregivers who dropped out of the intervention endorsed multiple psychosocial stressors during the time they were enrolled in the study, which may have contributed to their inability to complete the intervention.…”

“…Further, contrary to expectations that an online parenting intervention would be more accessible to families and lead to better completion rates than standard parenting interventions, Antonini et al (2012) reported high rates of no-shows and cancellations, and completion rates that were consistent with PCIT studies implemented in the clinic (Schuhmann, Foote, Eyberg, Boggs, & Algina, 1998). These challenges to maintaining gains and maximizing intervention adherence suggest an adaptation of PCIT to address the needs of high-risk families of children with TBI may be warranted.…”

“…In addition, given the case study design, it is unclear whether findings would generalize to other children, especially those younger than 11 years of age. In another case study, PCIT was implemented with a 5-year-old African American girl from an economically disadvantaged family with a moderate TBI and subsequent clinically significant externalizing behavior problems I-InTERACT has been examined via open trial methodology and has been found to be associated with significant improvements in parenting skills and trends for reductions in the overall number of behavior problems reported , as well as high satisfaction with the intervention (Antonini, Raj, Oberjohn, & Wade, 2012).…”

“…Therefore, it is unclear whether the intervention leads to long-lasting changes in parenting skills and child behavior. Lastly, although the use of online content is innovative, parents expressed technological difficulties and findings revealed mediocre session attendance and intervention completion rates (Antonini et al, 2012), suggesting that a web-based program may not be ideal for all families.…”

Current concepts in the rehabilitation of pediatric traumatic brain injury

“…Antonini et al [27] describe the results with an online positive parenting skills program for parents of children with TBI. Skype was used for videoconferencing and additional online sessions were available.…”