Eighteen-Month Follow-Up of Internet-Based Parent Management Training for Children with Conduct Problems and the Relation of Homework Compliance to Outcome

Abstract

The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate if previously reported treatment gains of a parent management training (PMT) program, administered via Internet, were retained from post to the 18-month follow-up. Another aim was to evaluate homework compliance as a predictor of short and long-term outcomes. Participants were parents of 58 children (3-11 years) with conduct problems who received a 10-week self-directed PMT program, with limited therapist support. Parents of 32 children (55.2 %) responded at all measurement point (baseline, post-test and follow-up) and analyses showed that child conduct problems continued to decrease during the 18-month period after the intervention whereas parenting skills deteriorated somewhat from post treatment. Pre- to post-treatment change in child conduct problems was predicted by parental engagement in homework assignments intended to reduce negative child behaviors. The findings provide support for the use of Internet-based PMT and stress the importance of parental compliance to homework training.

Technology-assisted interventions for parents of young children: Emerging practices, current research, and future directions

“…Online modules with video examples were combined with an online discussion forum moderated by the research team. Relative to a waitlist control group, parents in the intervention group demonstrated a significant decrease in reported child behavior problems with improvements maintained at 6-month and 18-month follow-up assessments (Enebrink et al, 2012; Hogstrom, Enebrink, Melin, & Ghaderi, 2014). The number of sessions and amount of homework completed during intervention predicted sustained improvements (Hogstrom et al, 2014).…”

A randomized controlled trial evaluating a low-intensity interactive online parenting intervention, Triple P Online Brief, with parents of children with early onset conduct problems

“…Firstly, Enebrink et al (2012) evaluated the efficacy of a web-based program with additional email support and discussion forum based on the COMET parent management training program. Results indicated a significant decrease in reported child behavior problems for intervention group parents compared to control, with improvements maintained at 6-month and 18-month follow-up assessments (Hogstrom, Enebrink, Melin, & Ghaderi, 2015). The other two programs were technology-assisted versions of the Triple P -Positive Parenting Program.…”

Randomized effectiveness Trial of the Family Check-Up versus Internet-delivered Parent Training (iComet) for Families of Children with Conduct Problems

“…Use of modern technology such as the Internet might be a viable option to increase access to psychological treatments, also to enable flexible use of interventions before problems become severe. During the past few years, parent-training programs for externalizing problems have been adapted for delivery through the Internet with secured web-based support 25 – 28 . For instance, the Triple P 29 was translated into an online version for parents of children with externalizing problems, showing reduced child behavior problems as well as improved parenting competences when evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.…”