Developing a text message intervention to support positive parenting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING AN SMS BASED INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE POSITIVE PARENTING WITH INFANTS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD: A SINGLE BLIND FEASIBILITY RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
IRAS ID
172617
Contact name
Katie V Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Evidence from the USA suggests that text messaging can promote increased engagement and improved outcomes for parenting interventions. The current study addresses whether an SMS text message based parenting intervention is feasible, acceptable and meaningful for mothers with infants below the age of one who have low to moderate postnatal illness and/or difficulties bonding with their infant.
Mothers between the ages of 20 and 55 who have previously or are currently accessing Nottinghamshire Children and Families Partnership (NCFP) Children’s Centres will be eligible to participate. The pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) will include mothers whose infants are aged between 1 month to 5 months at the start of the intervention.
Participants will be recruited through Nottinghamshire Children and Families Partnership (NCFP) Children’s Centres in the district of Mansfield. Data will be collected through a number of methods, including remotely via telephone and the internet, and face-to-face within children’s centres and at participants’ homes. The text message intervention will be delivered remotely.
The study is divided into four stages, which will last approximately 14 months in total. In stage 1, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire in order to determine the acceptability and service user preferences for a text message intervention. In stage 2, text messages will be developed and piloted in collaboration with stakeholders and parents. In stage 3, 24 mothers will be invited to participate in pilot RCT, with 12 receiving the text message intervention, and 12 receiving usual care. In stage 4, mothers involved in stage 3 will be asked to complete semi-structured feedback interviews.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0389
Date of REC Opinion
16 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion