Table 5.
Use and effects of technology in evidence-based parenting programs.
| Author | Name of adapted program and original EBP | COVID-19 context | Sample Size Location |
Remote Programmatic Delivery | Programmatic Enhancement | Effect of Technology on Measured Outcomes | Participant Satisfaction/Engagement | California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote Delivery | ||||||||
| 1. Baggett et al. (53) | e-PALS Baby-Net Program Adaptation of Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) program) |
No | 159 English and Spanish speaking, low-income mothers U.S. |
Internet-based intervention with self-directed learning via videos; video recorded practice; remote coaching via calls Provided computers for participant use |
Session dosage was associated with positive parenting and reduced potential for child abuse among high-risk group. | Most of the mothers at high risk for child maltreatment engaged in the intervention. Higher and lower risk groups had high completion rates (91% vs. 94%). | Yes (PALS); Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
| 2. Camero et al. (56)a | The Incredible Years Parents and Babies | Yes | 36 English/Spanish Speaking mothers U.S. |
8-week virtual workshop through a secured platform | Pilot is currently underway to evaluate parenting, attachment, and infant health outcomes | Interim findings among one group of 9 parents: Participants found follow-up communication to be beneficial, particularly for those who felt alone during the pandemic. Parents appreciated the opportunity to engage with other moms and professionals and learning ways to care for their children. |
Yes (The Incredible Years); Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
| 3. Feil et al. (54) | Infant-Net Program e-PALS Adaptation of Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) |
No | 3 pregnant adolescent girls, 15–17 years of age U.S. |
Interactive internet-based sessions, participant self-video recordings QuickTime multimedia presentations; video transfer for skill assessment Provided laptop with webcam for participants |
Electronic bulletin board for peer communication | Preliminary findings indicate increases in knowledge about infant signals and responsive parenting behaviors. | High-very high satisfaction and usability ratings observed. | Yes (PALS-3); Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
| 4. Lotto et al. (51) | ACT-Raising Safe Kids | Yes | 20 maternal-child dyads Brazil |
Google Meet and Google Forms platforms used for full online delivery of group sessions, activities, homework | Significant increase pre- to posttest in emotional/behavioral regulation and sense of competence and decreases in coercive practices. | The online delivery version received greater acceptance among participants. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
| 5. Sanders et al. (71) | Triple P + “Families” (Triple P adaptation) | No | 56 mothers | Videotaped “infotainment” delivery of Triple P, i.e., “Families” | Compared to waitlist control group, the Triple P TV condition reported decreased child disruptive problems and higher perceived parenting competence post-intervention and at 6 months follow-up. |
86% of mothers watched all 12 videotapes. Consumer acceptability was high in the television condition. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
| 6. Sanders et al. (73) | Triple P Positive Parenting Program Online (TPOL) (Triple P adaptation) |
No | 193 mothers and fathers New Zealand |
Internet-based session delivery, video demonstrations, computer assistant exercises | While effective in improving parenting practices, familial interactions, and problematic child behaviors, there were no differences between TPOL and the Triple P self-help workbook. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
||
| 7. Schein et al. (67) | Tele-ABC- virtual Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) | Yes | 70 parents U.S. |
Full or hybrid telehealth delivery Provided devices or hotspots as available by agencies |
Families in both telehealth and hybrid groups showed significant improvements in parental sensitivity and parenting behaviors including following lead and intrusiveness. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
||
| 8. Self-Brown et al. (41) | SafeCare | Yes | 303 SafeCare providers across high-risk service agencies US. (n = 286); Australia, and Canada (n = 17), |
Virtual delivery via Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Duo | Providers qualitatively reported positive but slower progression towards target skill goals among families in virtual delivery. No significant associations between SafeCare experience or country of residence with family engagement, or improvement. |
Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
||
| 9. Self-Brown et al. (42) | Technology-Assisted SafeCare Takes Care (SC-TA) Adaptation of SafeCare |
No | 31 SafeCare providers across high-risk service agencies U.S. |
Tablet-delivered, web-based program that provides video-based psychoeducation and modeling | n/a | Providers report general positive acceptance of technology among families, including advantages of video presentations, audio, and visual aids. Few families opposed to technology were less receptive to videos. |
Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
|
| 10. Traube et al. (60) | Parents as Teachers (PAT) | No | 84 English/Spanish parent-child dyads U.S. |
HIPAA compliant, interactive video conferencing technology for virtual delivery. Provided tablets for families in need |
n/a | Parents noted high user satisfaction with the program and educator, with > 89% noting equal or greater experiences compared to personal experiences with other in-person sessions. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = medium |
|
| Programmatic enhancement | ||||||||
| 11. Bigelow et al. (62) | Cellular Phone- Enhanced Planned Activities Training (PAT) (CPAT) SafeCare Component |
No | 19 mothers U.S. |
Provided cell phones to mothers for coaches to call between sessions, and supportive texts via phone or computer software: NotePager Pro 3.0 used by providers to text participants | Parents who received CPAT generally reported high satisfaction with content and their engagement with coaches via phone. Interim findings show those who received CPAT rather than PAT are less likely to miss appointments. Attrition rate was twice as high among PAT conditions compared to CPAT condition. |
SafeCare- Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
||
| 12. Calam et al. (78) | The sex-episode “Driving Mum and Dad Mad” television series among families with disruptive children receiving group Triple P | No | 723 biological mothers, fathers, or caregivers i.e. (stepparents, adoptive parents, foster parents and grandparents) Australia |
Technology-enhanced viewing with a self-help workbook and extra web support (downloadable parenting tip sheets and audio and video streaming of positive parenting messages) | Parents assigned to the standard conditions were more likely to stay engaged and continue to the final stage of the program. Results indicated that there were significant improvements in dysfunctional parenting, parental anger, parental mood, and parental self-efficacy. | Yes (Triple P); Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
||
| 13. Gaskin et al. (63) | Parent-Infant Interactions (PII) of SafeCare | No | Single case; mother with an intellectual disability U.S. |
Provided digital picture frame to participants in PII to capture photos of skill modeling and posed interactions | Preliminary findings indicate a strong increase in physical and non-physical parent-infant interaction skills post-intervention and at 1, 2, 4 months follow-up. | Parent expressed satisfaction with learning through frames and but discomfort with taking self- photos. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
|
| 14. Guastaferro et al. (64) | Parent-Infant Interactions (PII) module of SafeCare | No | 4 maternal-infant dyads U.S. |
Provided digital picture frame to participants in PII to capture photos of skill modeling and posed interactions | The intervention was associated with an increase in the demonstration of physical and non-physical skills. | General satisfaction with digital frame use | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
|
| 15. Jabaley et al. (65) | Safety Module of SafeCare | No | 3 mothers U.S. |
Provided mobile device to enhance SafeCare via for in and between session communication via texts and calls between parent provider, and video data collection | Preliminary findings show iPhone intervention was associated with reductions in household hazards in all rooms. Texts were the most common communication format. | Parents reacted positively to the cell phone enhancement. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
|
| 16. Lefever et al. (26) | Parent Child Interactions (PCI) module of SafeCare | No | 371 low-income maternal-child dyads U.S. |
Provided mobile device to enhance in-between text and call communication between parent and provider. NotePager Pro 3.0 used by providers to text participants | Although no significant difference between PCI and cell-phone supported PCI (PCI-C), greater improvements in parenting behaviors and depression symptoms observed across both groups compared to waitlist control group one-year post intervention. Children in the PCI-C group were more cooperative and less aggressive than children who were in the waitlist control group. Lower rates of attrition among PCI-C compared to PCI group. |
Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = high |
||
| 17. Love et al. (79) | Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) Online Community (social media Triple P Online adaptation) | No | 155 high-risk mothers and fathers U.S. |
Use of a social network online community (including discussion boards, and postings), gaming features (e.g., avatars; badges to incentivize skills practice), and access via smartphones, tablets, computers | Significant improvements were seen in parental stress, parenting practices (over reactivity, laxness), and problematic child behaviors. These effects were maintained at six-months post intervention. | Parents valued the flexibility, anonymity, and shared learning within the intervention. | Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
| 18. Sanders et al. (70) | Triple P | No | 3,000 English-speaking parents Australia |
Local media and communication strategies such as television and radio broadcasts. Community access to telephone counselling support services Optional telephone consultation in group Triple P |
Population trial results indicate increased awareness of Triple P among communities exposed to resources; significant reductions across coercive parenting, depression, and stress; no differences noted in support of confidence. Significant reductions in child-level clinical emotional symptoms in Triple P group compared to care-as-usual group. Significant reductions in child-level behavioral and emotional problems compared to care-as-usual group. |
Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
||
| 19. Ondersma et al. (58) | Healthy Families America | No | 413 At-risk, English-speaking women U.S. |
e-Parenting Program: computer delivered modules augmenting Healthy Families sessions | E-Parenting Program group showed no significant improvement in depression and self-reported drug use from baseline to 6 month follow up and 6 month-12 months, compared to services as usual and control group | Parents were likely to recommend the program. e-Parenting Program received positive feedback following program completion. Participants providing high ratings across scored helpfulness, and respectfulness, and working alliance with providers. Average scores were noted for relevance. |
Yes; Child Welfare Relevance = Medium |
|
a
Peer-Reviewed Abstract.