Andre Sourander1, Patrick J McGrath2, Terja Ristkari3, Charles Cunningham4, Jukka Huttunen5, Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki5, Marjo Kurki5, Patricia Lingley-Pottie6. 1. University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Finland. Electronic address: andsou@utu.fi. 2. IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Strongest Families Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 3. University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Finland. 4. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 5. University of Turku, Finland. 6. IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Strongest Families Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an internet-based and telephone-assisted parent training intervention, which used whole population screening and which comprehensively targeted symptomatic 4-year-old children, was effective 24 months after the start of treatment. No long-term follow-up studies using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) existed on this subject. METHOD: Of the 4,656 children 4 years old who were screened in Southwest Finland, 730 met the criteria for high-level disruptive behavioral problems, and 464 parents agreed to be randomized to the 11-week Strongest Families Smart Website (SFSW) intervention (n = 232) or an educational control (EC) (n = 232). After 24 months, 163 SFSW parents (70%) and 165 EC parents (71%) were still participating. RESULTS: When we compared the results at baseline and 24 months, the primary outcome of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) externalizing score showed significantly higher improvements in the SFSW group (effect size 0.22; p < 0.001). This group also showed greater improvements in the secondary outcomes: the CBCL total and internalizing scales, 5 of the 7 CBCL symptom domains, 3 of the 5 DSM subscores, and self-reported parenting skills. Fewer SFSW children (17.5%) than EC children (28.0%) had been referred to child mental health services between baseline and 24 months (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.1-3.1). CONCLUSION: The SFSW internet-based and telephone-assisted parental training program was effective 24 months after initiation, underlining the value of identifying children at risk in the community early and providing evidence-based parent training for a large number of families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: STRONGEST FAMILIES FINLAND CANADA: Family-based Prevention and Treatment Program of Early Childhood Disruptive Behavior (Fin-Can). http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01750996.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an internet-based and telephone-assisted parent training intervention, which used whole population screening and which comprehensively targeted symptomatic 4-year-old children, was effective 24 months after the start of treatment. No long-term follow-up studies using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) existed on this subject. METHOD: Of the 4,656 children 4 years old who were screened in Southwest Finland, 730 met the criteria for high-level disruptive behavioral problems, and 464 parents agreed to be randomized to the 11-week Strongest Families Smart Website (SFSW) intervention (n = 232) or an educational control (EC) (n = 232). After 24 months, 163 SFSW parents (70%) and 165 EC parents (71%) were still participating. RESULTS: When we compared the results at baseline and 24 months, the primary outcome of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) externalizing score showed significantly higher improvements in the SFSW group (effect size 0.22; p < 0.001). This group also showed greater improvements in the secondary outcomes: the CBCL total and internalizing scales, 5 of the 7 CBCL symptom domains, 3 of the 5 DSM subscores, and self-reported parenting skills. Fewer SFSW children (17.5%) than EC children (28.0%) had been referred to child mental health services between baseline and 24 months (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.1-3.1). CONCLUSION: The SFSW internet-based and telephone-assisted parental training program was effective 24 months after initiation, underlining the value of identifying children at risk in the community early and providing evidence-based parent training for a large number of families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: STRONGEST FAMILIES FINLAND CANADA: Family-based Prevention and Treatment Program of Early Childhood Disruptive Behavior (Fin-Can). http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01750996.
Authors: Terja Ristkari; Marjo Kurki; Andre Sourander; Auli Suominen; Sonja Gilbert; Atte Sinokki; Malin Kinnunen; Jukka Huttunen; Patrick McGrath Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2019-04-11 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Alan McLuckie; Ashley L Landers; Janet A Curran; Robin Cann; Domenica H Carrese; Alicia Nolan; Kim Corrigan; Normand J Carrey Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2019-07-23
Authors: Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus; Hanna-Maria Matinolli; Otto Waris; Subina Upadhyaya; Miika Vuori; Tarja Korpilahti-Leino; Terja Ristkari; Tarja Koffert; Andre Sourander Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2022-02-23 Impact factor: 7.076
Authors: Andre Sourander; Terja Ristkari; Marjo Kurki; Sonja Gilbert; Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki; Malin Kinnunen; Laura Pulkki-Råback; Patrick J McGrath Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2022-04-04 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Tarja Korpilahti-Leino; Terhi Luntamo; Terja Ristkari; Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki; Laura Pulkki-Råback; Otto Waris; Hanna-Maria Matinolli; Atte Sinokki; Yuko Mori; Mami Fukaya; Yuko Yamada; Andre Sourander Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2022-04-13 Impact factor: 5.428