Partners in Parenting: Evaluating the real-world use and impact of an online tailored parenting program for parents of adolescents.

Intervention

Intervention code Behaviour , Lifestyle , Prevention

The intervention is a web-based parenting program called Partners in Parenting (PiP). PiP consists of three components: 1) parents first complete an online self-assessment of their current parenting practices (the Parenting to Reduce Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Scale [PRADAS]). The PRADAS assesses parenting practices in relation to the recommendations in the evidence-base parenting guidelines "How to Prevent Depression and Clinical Anxiety in your Teenager: Strategies for Parents" (Parenti .... The intervention is a web-based parenting program called Partners in Parenting (PiP). PiP consists of three components: 1) parents first complete an online self-assessment of their current parenting practices (the Parenting to Reduce Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Scale [PRADAS]). The PRADAS assesses parenting practices in relation to the recommendations in the evidence-base parenting guidelines "How to Prevent Depression and Clinical Anxiety in your Teenager: Strategies for Parents" (Parenting Strategies Program, 2013; henceforth the Guidelines); 2) based on their responses to the PRADAS, parents receive an individually-tailored feedback report. The feedback highlights areas of strength, and provides practical strategies for identified areas for improvement; 3) based on the identified areas for improvement, parents are recommended up to 9 interactive online modules to support them in making changes to their parenting. The overarching aim of the personalised feedback and online modules is to support parents to make changes to their parenting in order to align more closely with the parenting recommendations in the Guidelines. Although parents are recommended certain modules based on their responses to the PRADAS, they can further tailor their program by selecting additional modules or de-selecting modules recommended to them. The feedback report is displayed to parents online (on their 'personal dashboard' as part of the PiP program). Parents are also emailed a PDF copy of their feedback, as well as a copy of the Guidelines. The interactive modules can be accessed online, from any device with internet access (including smartphones). The modules include illustrations, audio clips, vignettes, interactive activities, goal-setting exercises, and an end-of-module quiz with immediate feedback to consolidate learning. The module topics include: parent-child relationship, parental involvement and autonomy granting, encouraging supportive relationships, establishing family rules, minimising conflict in the home, encouraging good health habits, problem solving, managing anxiety, and seeking professional help. Each module takes about 15-25 minutes to complete, depending on the topic and how parents engage with the module. Parents are invited to complete their first module immediately after they have completed their baseline survey and received their feedback report. Thereafter they are encouraged to complete one module per week (in a set order) until they have completed their whole program. After completing all of their selected modules, parents can continue to access all nine modules as many times as they like. The online program is self-guided, with email and SMS reminders from the research team. Parents receive email and SMS reminders if they are inactive in the online program for a specified time period. Reminders consist of a standard email followed by a short SMS alerting the parent to the email. Reminders are sent based on the following criteria: 1) After completing the baseline assessment, if a parent has not selected their modules, they are sent up to a maximum of three reminders: 7, 14 and 21 days post-baseline completion. After this, no further reminders are made. 2) After selecting their modules, parents who do not complete any modules receive up to three reminders: at 21, 28 and 35 days post-module selection. After this, no further reminders are made. 3) Parents who complete at least one module and then become inactive (i.e. do no complete any further modules) receive a maximum of one reminder every 21 days of inactivity during the intervention period (from baseline to 90 day follow-up). All reminders cease when the parent is due for the 90 day follow-up survey. In total, participation in the study will take approximately 3 months, including program completion and completion of evaluation surveys. Duration will be less than 3 months if parents select less than 9 modules and/or do not complete the optional evaluation survey. Although the Partners in Parenting program has been evaluated previously, the program is not currently available to the public. Only participants in this study can access the online program.
Read more

Comparison

Control group Uncontrolled

No control group

Outcomes

Outcome: Parental risk and protective factors for adolescent depression and anxiety disorders, as measured by the total score on the Parenting to Reduce Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Scale (PRADAS). The PRADAS is a composite measure of several risk and protective factors, hence the total score is the primary outcome of interest.
Timepoint: The PRADAS will be completed at baseline and at 3-months (90 days) post-baseline completion date.