Daniel Crimmins, PhD, Georgia State University (Funded 2018)
The primary purpose of this project is to conduct two randomized control trials (RCTs) separately testing the effects of integrating LTSAE materials into the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting model as a developmental monitoring (DM) activity in Phase 1 / Year 1 and the integration of TWMB into PAT as a language nutrition program in Phase 2 / Year 2. These RCTs will be conducted in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), which supports families in 10 Georgia counties in their use of PAT in their home visiting programs with families of young children.
Aim 1 / Phase 1 / Year 1: To evaluate the effects of LTSAE integration into PAT by conducting a 2-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Consistent with our original proposal, we will meet with DPH to finalize study logistics and develop a schedule for implementation and communication with their health districts. We will recruit focus interview participants for input on how best to integrate the respective materials into the current PAT delivery. We will finalize our training module on LTSAE for the home visitors, recruit and obtain informed consent from home visitors in the designated counties, train the home visitors on how to integrate LTSAE into PAT, support home visitors in sharing information about the study with caregivers on their existing caseloads, and teach them about the data reporting requirement s of the study. We will meet with interested families on their homes to explain the study procedures, obtain their informed consent, and teach them about the data reporting requirement s of the study. Eight (8) home visitors will be recruited for each arm of the study; each home visitor will work with four (4) families (on average) with children under the age of three. Thus, a total of 64 families (32 in the enhanced treatment arm and 32 in the comparison arm) will be recruited for each study; we anticipate that 28 will complete the study protocol. Phase 1 will include caregivers and their children participating in the PAT Alone (comparison) or PAT plus LTSAE (enhanced). Effects will be examined relative to change in provider referral, caregiver behavior (IPCI; LIWC), and child behavior, including expressive language (ECI) and social communication behavior (IPCI). Study personnel will collect baseline assessment with all measures; measurement will be repeated at four weeks and eight weeks. Home visitors and family participants will receive modest incentives for each data session. Recorded language samples will be coded by trained research assistants. The plans for analysis, dissemination, and data security are described in the original proposal.
Aim 2 / Phase 2 / Year 2: To evaluate the effects of TWMB integration into PAT by conducting a 2-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial. If funding is available, we will repeat the above procedures as Phase 2, with one group participating in the PAT Alone (comparison) arm and the other in PAT plus TWMB.