Pilot and feasibility study of a parenting intervention delivered by parent peers

Abstract

Preventive parenting interventions delivered by parent peer specialists may be a viable alternative to professional-led interventions and offer an advantage of increasing access in medically underserved areas. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a 10-session, peer specialist-delivered preventive parenting intervention (Smart and Secure Children) for child disruptive behavior. The intervention was evaluated among a small sample of parents (N = 15) of preschoolers (2–5 years) residing in medically underserved communities. Pediatricians referred families to the intervention, which was delivered in primary care practices within medically underserved communities. To determine feasibility, we calculated percentages of pediatricians who referred parents to the intervention, parent peer specialists who completed 40-h interventionist and leadership training, and the average number of sessions attended by parents. Enrolled parents completed questionnaires assessing child disruptive behavior, parenting stress and parenting competence at pre-and post-intervention. Descriptive statistics demonstrated the majority of pediatricians within the clinics referred families, and all parent peer specialists completed training to deliver the intervention. On average, 60% of sessions were attended by parents. Pairwise t-tests showed pre-to-post-intervention improvements in number of child disruptive behaviors perceived as a problem by parents, parenting stress and parenting competence. No significant change was found in parent-reported frequency of child disruptive behaviors. Results suggests adequate feasibility of the Smart and Secure Children Intervention, and that it holds promise for improving parenting stress and competence, and decreasing the number of child behaviors that are perceived as a problem by parents. Future directions for research are discussed.

Respite Care for caregivers of mentally challenged children in Pakistan: A Feasibility Study of the Family Peer Support Buddy Program

“…Similarly, results of various feasibility studies for caregivers of individuals with special needs have also demonstrated acceptability and satisfaction with the interventions. [41,49] Eighty two (82%) participants (dyads) practiced intervention exercises for > 1 month. Working hours of the husbands, varied household tasks of the wives, and distant living of relatives were among the few reasons for inconsistent practicing schedules.…”

“…Speci cally, 100 dyads consisting of a caregiver and a family volunteer, a total of 200 participants (100 caregivers and 100 family volunteers) were selected from the rehabilitation facility involved in the study. [41,42] Participants, who were stressed during the study or who needed medical help after completion of the study were referred to local mental health services, where they were attended to on a priority basis. Since no funding was available, no monetary compensation was given to the participants, however, refreshments were provided during the sessions.…”

Pilot Randomized Trial of a Family Management Efficacy Intervention for Caregivers of African American Adolescents with Disruptive Behaviors

“…Several caregiver support and skills training interventions to reduce stress associated with their child's care related to disruptive behaviors have been developed (Acri & Hoagwood, 2015;Barlow, Smailagic, Huband, Roloff, & Bennett, 2014;Gerkensmeyer et al, 2013;McKay et al, 2011;Williford & Shelton, 2008;Wittkowski, Dowling, & Smith, 2016). These interventions have demonstrated benefit in the areas of caregiver psychosocial functioning including depression, anxiety, stress (Barlow et al, 2014;Kuravackel et al, 2017;Da Paz & Wallander, 2017); caregiver competence and confidence (Barlow et al, 2014;Kuravackel et al, 2017); caregiver knowledge and management of their child's behavior problems (Butler & Titus, 2017;Kuravackel et al, 2017); and caregiver efficacy in navigating and accessing mental health and social services for their child (Jamison et al, 2017;Rodriguez et al, 2010). For example, Kutash, Duchnowski, Green, and Ferron (2011) found positive benefits in a parent-to-parent support group in caregiver perceived efficacy in obtaining needed mental health services for their child in special education.…”

Examining the Effect of a Parent-to-Parent Intervention for Low-Income Youth with Serious Emotional and Behavioral Challenges

“…Long-term treatment benefits have been demonstrated via within-group, waitlist control, and randomized control trials (RCTs). Other methods for determining the impact of parent-to-parent interventions entail the use of mediation analyses [27] and exploring the relationship between caregiver strain and treatment participation [25]. Assessing intervention effectiveness within the context of attrition and parent acceptability offers a unique insight for identifying the most helpful treatments that are available for whom, and under what conditions.…”