Healthy Start Happy Start: Long-term follow-up
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Long term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of early mental health intervention: Follow up to the Healthy Start, Happy Start study
IRAS ID
310487
Contact name
Paul Ramchandani
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
researchregistry7577 , Research Registry (researchregistry.com)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Behaviour problems are common and often start in early childhood. Children with persistent problems are at a higher risk of mental and physical health problems and educational and social difficulties as they grow up. Parenting programmes are a key way of helping families. However, few studies have looked at whether the benefits of parenting programmes are short lived or continue to be helpful as children grow older.
This study is a follow up to the Healthy Start, Happy Start study (REC.Ref:14/LO/2071), which examined the effectiveness of a brief parenting programme (called VIPP-SD) for one- and two-year-olds showing early signs of behaviour problems (e.g., tantrums, aggression, impulsivity). In the original trial, we visited 300 families when the study started and 5 and 24 months later. We found that children whose families received the VIPP-SD programme showed fewer behaviour problems than those whose families did not. It was difficult to measure the programme’s value for money because families tend to use services more when their children are older and problems are more established.
Following up the Healthy Start, Happy Start children now when they are approximately 8 years old will allow us to answer two important questions. Firstly, are the initial benefits of the VIPP-SD programme maintained into middle childhood? Secondly, is the VIPP-SD programme good value for money? Answering these questions is important as this is the first opportunity to test whether an effective early intervention for children’s mental health continues to make a difference to children, families, society, and the NHS in the long term.
We will ask caregivers to complete an interview and questionnaires about their children’s behaviour and wellbeing and their use of health services. We will also ask teachers and children themselves to provide information to build up a more complete picture of children’s development.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0182
Date of REC Opinion
10 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion