Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT00819702 |
| Other study ID # |
HP-00040157 (H-27327) |
| Secondary ID |
1R49CE000588 |
| Status |
Completed |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
May 2006 |
| Est. completion date |
May 2010 |
Study information
| Verified date |
November 2019 |
| Source |
University of Maryland, Baltimore |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
Our broad goal is to help prevent child maltreatment (CM) by modifying pediatric practice to
be more responsive to prevalent psychosocial needs of many children and families.Training
pediatricians to address key risk factors for CM, the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK)
model aims to support parenting and family functioning, reducing the risk for CM while
helping promote children's health, development and safety. We are building upon the existing
pediatric primary care system and strengthening the training of pediatricians. The project
also builds on our extensive research and clinical expertise in CM and in prevention (Black &
Dubowitz, 1999, Dubowitz et al., 1998, 1999, in press; Dubowitz & Guterman, 2005, Gaudin &
Dubowitz, 1997).
We have developed and implemented an enhanced model of pediatric primary care, taking
advantage of the enormous opportunities of the existing pediatric primary care system, with
its regular contact with young children and parents (Dubowitz & Newberger, 1989; Dubowitz,
1989, 1990; Green, 1994). Pediatricians typically devote over half their time to checkups,
focusing on prevention. There is increasing recognition that pediatric care must incorporate
aspects of parental and family functioning and collaborate with community resources (Academy
of Pediatrics, 1998; Green, 1994b). The broad goal of this project is to implement concepts
that have been embraced by the field of pediatrics, but have not been applied and tested.
Description:
The SEEK project, funded by a CDC grant to the Division of Child Protection at the University
of Maryland School of Medicine, attempts to offer a comprehensive and practical office-based
approach to the identification and assessment of risk factors for child maltreatment,
integrated into the delivery of well child health care.
Review of the literature identifies four major risk factors leading to child maltreatment, 1)
maternal depression, 2) alcohol and substance abuse, 3) domestic violence, and 4) parental
stress and poor coping. The project has several "arms" to address these risk factors.
Initially, there is training to help busy primary care providers (PCPs) address the targeted
problems in the pediatric office setting. The second phase is the introduction of a brief
screening questionnaire into selected well child visits to identify these risk factors in
families. If risk factors are present, the PCP will briefly assess the problem. A project
social worker is available (by phone or in the office) to help address the problem, and to
aid the families in accessing community resources. Another part of the project assesses the
validity of the screening questionnaire against several "gold standard" measures used to
diagnose the targeted risk problems.
The training focused on the four major factors described. We used realistic office scenarios
and offered participants the opportunity to use newly learned management strategies in
addressing them. Small group experience with adequate time for processing and practice were
utilized. Scheduling was done in conjunction with the participating offices. An advisory
committee of practicing community pediatricians and office personnel offered consultation on
all phases of the program, as well as strategies to efficiently integrate the program into
office practice. The project enlisted 102 PCPs in 18 practices with half serving as controls.
Those in the intervention arm received the training. Study health care offices used the
one-page SEEK screening questionnaire in their practices. Control pediatricians made no
change to their current practice, and continued to provide standard care. Parents were given
the questionnaire, in the office, before the 2 and 15 month, and 2, 3, 4, and 5 year well
child visits. Questionnaires were completed while the parent waited. Questionnaires were
quickly and easily read by the PCPat the visit. Significant issues were briefly assessed and
addressed during the visit. The project social worker was available to practices for
consultation and for direct intervention with families. "Booster sessions," reviewing the
educational and intervention materials were held four times during the 2.5 year study period.
PCP knowledge, attitudes, level of comfort and perceived competence regarding the targeted
problems were assessed at the beginning and end of the training and at the end of the 2nd and
3rd year.
The central objective of the SEEK project was to examine whether parent functioning was
improved by addressing common risk factors for child maltreatment, thus strengthening
families and helping prevent maltreatment. A subset of parents in the project practices -
intervention and control - were approached to participate in the evaluation of the project.
Interest in participating was briefly assessed in the practice. A member of the project team
contacted interested parents to fully explain what is involved. Parents who agreed to
participate completed a survey (on-line or paper) at three different points. Survey
completion took about 60 minutes, for which they were modestly compensated.
In addition, to evaluate the project, members of the project team did a chart review, and
directly observed practice behavior. We also asked parents' permission to review Department
of Social Services records for possible involvement. All participating pediatricians and
practices were invited to share in the conclusions at the end of the project.
The SEEK team hopes that this intervention will be the basis for a new and practical approach
to the assessment of serious psychosocial risk factors within the framework of health
supervision visits. Ultimately, our hope is that the identification and amelioration of these
risk factors will help prevent child maltreatment, and improve the lives of many children and
their families. We encourage you to join us in developing an innovative approach to help
address psychosocial risk factors in pediatric practice.
