Self-Concept Reinforcement for Early School Readiness: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Clinic-Based Intervention for Young African American Children
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Summary
The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to evaluate a self-concept intervention (Self-Concept Reinforcement for Early School Readiness (SCR4ESR)) in young African American children using experimental and mixed methods. SCR4ESR provides self-concept themed children's books and advice at health supervision visits of children enrolled at ages 2-4 years. The specific aims of the proposed project are to: 1. assess the feasibility and acceptability of SCR4ESR implementation among parents and providers, 2. evaluate the capacity of SCR4ESR to improve self-concept reinforcement and book-sharing behaviors in parents of young African American children, and 3) evaluate the capacity of SCR4ESR to improve behavioral health and literacy in young African American children. The interviews conducted in Aim 1 will guide refinement of the intervention tested in Aims 2 and 3. The qualitative assessment will be complemented by quantitative trial statistics (e.g., recruitment rate) that inform trial feasibility and acceptability. Finally, the mechanism by which SCR4ESR impacts the primary outcome, behavioral health, and the secondary outcome, literacy, will be evaluated by structural equation modeling. This project will inform the development and implementation of early childhood interventions that improve the health of African Americans.
Description
Study Design. The proposed mixed methods study has 2 phases. Phase 1 will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of SCR4ESR implementation from the perspectives of parents and providers (Aim 1, qualitative). Phase 2 will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of SCR4ESR+ROR versus ROR alone in parents of 2- to 4-year-old African American children to assess SCR4ESR's impact on parenting behaviors, child behavioral health, and literacy; and to assess feasibility of the trial (Aims 2 \& 3, quantitative). Phase 1: Evaluation of the Feasibility and Acceptability of SCR4ESR (Aim 1).…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 2+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Parent/Legal guardian must be 18 years old or older * Speak English * Legal guardian of the index 2 to 4-year-old African American child Exclusion Criteria: * Index child has severe cognitive impairment or communication difficulties (i.e., severe intellectual disability or nonverbal) * Plan to move outside of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) service area in the next 15 months * CHLA employee * Participated in Aim 1 interviews
Interventions
- BehavioralSelf-Concept Reinforcement for Early School Readiness
Self-Concept Reinforcement for Early School Readiness (SCR4ESR) is based on the nationwide Reach Out and Read (ROR) program adapted to reinforce self-concept. ROR provides children's books, brief book-sharing advice, and developmental surveillance at pediatric well child visits. Each of the 5 SCR4ESR sessions provides 1 children's book with a self-concept theme, 1 parent handout, and modeling of book-sharing.
- BehavioralReach Out and Read
ROR provides children's books and brief book-sharing advice at pediatric well child visits
Location
- Children's Hospital Los AngelesLos Angeles, California