DOCS Parenting offers group-delivered behavioral parent training interventions for caregivers of children ages 0-12 years.
Challenging behaviors such as whining, temper tantrums, and non-compliance are very common during the toddler and preschool years, and if left unaddressed, will persist through early and middle childhood. Children with special needs are at even greater risk for behavioral problems. Caregivers may not understand why their children misbehave and may become frustrated in their attempts to discipline. DOCS Parenting offer caregivers a problem-solving approach to understand and resolve everyday behavior problems. These programs emphasize prevention strategies and positive behavior supports. Caregivers who have completed DOCS Parenting report gains in their parenting skills, reductions in parenting stress and child behavior problems, and satisfaction with the programs. DOCS Parenting sessions are available in both English and Spanish. DOCS Parenting has been recognized as an outstanding community resource, and has received awards from Early Steps, the Early Childhood Council, and the Hispanic Heritage Committee.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
800
Early Years is a group delivered behavioral parenting intervention for caregivers and professionals of children 0-5 years
School Years is a group delivered behavioral parent training intervention for caregivers and professionals of children in Kindergarten thru 5th Grade
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida, United States
RECRUITINGEyberg Child Behavior Inventory
Child behavior problems are analyzed at pre- and post-intervention using the Intensity scale of the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Caregivers used a 7-point Likert scale (1 = never to 7 = always) to rate intensity of child problem behaviors (e.g., aggression, whining, noncompliance). Intensity scores range from 36 to 252, and a score of 131 or higher indicates a clinically significant behavior problem and higher scores = worse outcome. The ECBI has high test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, and inter-rater reliability (αs = .75, .93, and .79, respectively) and strong content and construct validity.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
DOCS Parenting Stress Measure
Parenting stress is analyzed using the DOCS Parenting Stress Measure at pre- and post-intervention (DOCS PSM, adapted from the Autism Parenting Stress Index. The APSI was designed to measure caregivers' ability to cope with the demands of raising a child with autism and includes 13 items related to daily living, development, and adaptation. The adaptation involved slightly re-wording some items (e.g., changing your child's diet to your child's feeding difficulties) and adding four items on the impact parenting has on other aspects of the caregiver's life, like the time and financial resources parenting takes. Like the ASPI, the 17-item DOCS PSM uses Likert-scale responses ranging from 0 = not stressful to 4 = so stressful sometimes you feel you can't cope with total scores ranging from 0-68, higher scores = more stress and worse outcome. The ASPI has demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability (αs = .83, .88, respectively).
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Therapy Attitude Inventory
The Therapy Attitude Inventory (TAI) is administered at post-test to assess participant satisfaction. The TAI has 10 items covering discipline techniques taught in the course and caregiver confidence with using them, and strategies for teaching modeled through the course etc. The TAI uses a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from no satisfaction or improvement (e.g., 1 = nothing, much worse than before, etc.) to high levels of satisfaction or improvement (e.g., 5 = greatly improved, very satisfied, etc.) and overall scores range from 10-50 with higher scores = better outcome. The TAI has demonstrated excellent reliability, good test-retest reliability and acceptable internal consistency (αs = .91, .85, and .78, respectively.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Developmentally Appropriate Discipline Inventory
The Developmentally Appropriate Discipline Inventory is administered at post-test to assess participant knowledge of developmentally appropriate discipline strategies as a result of participating in the DOCS intervention. The DADI has 10 items covering discipline techniques taught in the intervention. The DADI uses a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from strongly disagree (e.g., 1 = strongly disagree, etc.) to strongly agree (e.g., 5 = strongly agree.) and overall scores range from 10-50 with higher scores = better outcome.
Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment at 6 weeks.