Child AbuseNCT04324619
iLookOut for Child Abuse: Micro-learning to Improve Knowledge Retention
A study testing Online interactive learning activities in people with Child Abuse, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This proposed randomized controlled trial will examine whether gamified micro-learning is a feasible and effective way to promote long-term learning about child abuse and its reporting. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 100 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Child Abuse
- What is being tested?
- Online interactive learning activities
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 6,000 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 10 Apr 2024to 31 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- At least 18 years of age
- Works or volunteers at a childcare facility in Pennsylvania
Who cannot join
- Younger than 18 years of age
- Does not work or volunteer at a childcare facility in Pennsylvania
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center / Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
About this study
This proposed randomized controlled trial will examine whether gamified micro-learning is a feasible and effective way to promote long-term learning about child abuse and its reporting. After completing the interactive online learning program, iLookOut for Child Abuse, early childhood professionals will receive brief (5-10 minute) gamified learning exercises to complete on their smart-phones. By measuring knowledge (and other outcomes) over time, the investigators will determine how much knowledge decays over various time periods, how well micro-learning can remediate that decay, and whether such a 2-phase intervention is feasible for helping early childhood professionals be better prepared to identify and report suspected child abuse.
Read the detailed description
The epidemic of child abuse in the U.S. (>670,000 confirmed annually) causes massive harm to children and the adults they become. Surprisingly, <1% of these substantiated cases of child abuse are identified and reported by early childhood professionals (ECPs) -though they take care of >10 million American children.
In the parent study, the online learning program, iLookOut for Child Abuse (iLookOut), has been shown to significantly improve ECPs' knowledge and attitudes about child abuse/reporting; and preliminary data from an NICHD-sponsored randomized controlled trial suggest that iLookOut also improves ECPs' actual reporting of suspected abuse -ie, a greater likelihood of reports being screened-in, and screened-in reports leading to findings of abuse and/or social services being recommended.
It is known that for gains in knowledge to be sustained, they must be reinforced …and reinforced again -because newly acquired knowledge decays over time unless it is put into use. To that end, the investigators have built and piloted a micro-learning platform that delivers gamified, interactive, micro-learning activities to 1) reinforce information taught in iLookOut's (3-hour) core learning program, 2) augment this learning with new material, and 3) provide opportunities to practice applying what has been learned. ECPs can complete micro-learning activities on their smartphones, and receive 3 additional hours of professional development credit (at no cost). Since deploying this platform, the majority of ECPs enrolling in the parent iLookOut study have engaged in >1 hour of micro-learning.
Because so many ECPs are willing to engage in iLookOut's micro-learning, and because spaced retrieval and spaced practice are known to improve learning, the investigators have reason to believe that this new intervention can help sustain ECPs' preparedness to appropriately identify and report suspected child abuse. What is not known is the rate of knowledge decay following iLookOut's core learning program; whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy (core + micro-learning) helps remediate decays in knowledge; and what is the best timing to introduce this reinforcement -immediately, or after a delay of some months.
iLookOut's micro-learning platform is fully integrated with the learning management system for iLookOut's core learning program, and a cognitive sequencing map helps ensure that micro-learning content is fully aligned with the core learning program. Upgrading the functionality of the current micro-learning activities will enable the investigators to capture the kind of granular, question-level data needed for rigorous research. Conducting a randomized controlled trial in Pennsylvania (where micro-learning has not yet been introduced) will allow the investigators to evaluate how well interactive, micro-learning activities improve learning, and more generally how a multi-faceted implementation strategy that utilizes mobile technology-based learning (ie, using smartphones) can better prepare ECPs to appropriately identify and report suspected child abuse.
- Conditions
- Child Abuse
- Being tested
- Online interactive learning activities
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Online interactive learning activitiesOther
- 3-hour video-storyline-based interactive learning program
- Micro-learning activities that can be completed on mobile devices (eg, smartphones)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Experimental | After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning immediately. Receives: Other: Online interactive learning activities |
| 3 month delay | Experimental | After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 3 months. Receives: Other: Online interactive learning activities |
| 6 month delay | Experimental | After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 6 months. Receives: Other: Online interactive learning activities |
| 12 month delay | Experimental | After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 12 months. Receives: Other: Online interactive learning activities |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acceptable completion of iLookOut Micro-learning program measured by 50% of core program learners completing the micro-learning program.
Evaluate whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy that includes learners completing an initial core training that is reinforced by using a micro-learning program (core learning program + micro-learning) is a way to educate ECPs about child abuse and its reporting. We will judge the iLookOut intervention program to have an acceptable completion rate if: >50% of ECPs who complete iLookOut's core learning program also complete the micro-learning program.
Measured: 5 years
Feasibility of iLookOut micro-learning program used for professional development measured by 75% of leaner self-reporting learner satisfaction using net promoter score.
Evaluate whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy that includes learners completing an initial core training followed by using a micro-learning program is a feasible way to educate ECPs about child abuse and its reporting. We will judge the iLookOut intervention feasible if:
>75% of participants report endorsing the iLookOut micro-learning program, as measured by the a net promoter score that is >0. The net promoter scale consists of one question, How likely would you be to recommend this learning program to a fellow early childhood professional?, with responses measured on a -100 to +100.
Measured: 5 years
Secondary outcomes (2)
Average knowledge score compared at 5-time points and measured by the iLookOut knowledge assessment.
The iLookOut knowledge measure includes 26 knowledge items. Each item has a correct and incorrect response that is scored for correctness. The knowledge score will be measured at 5 time-points: 1) prior to the core learning program; 2) immediately after the learning program; 3) immediately prior to micro-learning; 4) immediately after micro-learning; and 5) three months after completion of micro-learning. The average knowledge score will be compared at each time-point.
Measured: 5 years
Knowledge score decay and remediation measured by change in average knowledge score on the iLookOut knowledge assessment over 5 time points.
The iLookOut knowledge scores collected at each of 5 time points will be compared to determine the change in knowledge at each time-point. A reduction in knowledge score from a prior assessment of knowledge will be considered a decay in knowledge. An increase in knowledge score after such a decay will be considered remediation. Knowledge scores will evaluate the natural course of knowledge decay, the degree of remediation following completion of micro-learning activities, and then any subsequent knowledge decay. Knowledge will be measured at 5 time-points: 1) prior to the core learning program; 2) immediately after the learning program; 3) immediately prior to micro-learning; 4) immediately after micro-learning; and 5) three months after completion of micro-learning. The average knowledge scores at each time-point will be compared.
Measured: 5 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Mar 2020
- Study start10 Apr 2024
- Primary completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Child AbuseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Model description
- After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, early childhood professionals will be randomized to receive follow-up micro-learning either immediately, or after a delay (3, 6, or 12 months). Decay in knowledge will be measured, as well as remediation of that decay following micro-learning.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 6,000 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Benjamin H. Levi, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04324619
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- iLO6000
- Other IDs
- R01HD088448
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2020
- Last updated
- 14 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Only de-identified data would be available for sharing.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- iLookOut for Child Abuse: Micro-learning to Improve Knowledge Retention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04324619
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- iLO6000
- Conditions
- Child Abuse
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 6,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Study start
- 10 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Mar 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This proposed randomized controlled trial will examine whether gamified micro-learning is a feasible and effective way to promote long-term learning about child abuse and its reporting. After completing the interactive online learning program, iLookOut for Child Abuse, early childhood professionals will receive brief (5-10 minute) gamified learning exercises to complete on their smart-phones. By measuring knowledge (and other outcomes) over time, the investigators will determine how much knowledge decays over various time periods, how well micro-learning can remediate that decay, and whether such a 2-phase intervention is feasible for helping early childhood professionals be better prepared to identify and report suspected child abuse.
Detailed description
The epidemic of child abuse in the U.S. (>670,000 confirmed annually) causes massive harm to children and the adults they become. Surprisingly, <1% of these substantiated cases of child abuse are identified and reported by early childhood professionals (ECPs) -though they take care of >10 million American children.
In the parent study, the online learning program, iLookOut for Child Abuse (iLookOut), has been shown to significantly improve ECPs' knowledge and attitudes about child abuse/reporting; and preliminary data from an NICHD-sponsored randomized controlled trial suggest that iLookOut also improves ECPs' actual reporting of suspected abuse -ie, a greater likelihood of reports being screened-in, and screened-in reports leading to findings of abuse and/or social services being recommended.
It is known that for gains in knowledge to be sustained, they must be reinforced …and reinforced again -because newly acquired knowledge decays over time unless it is put into use. To that end, the investigators have built and piloted a micro-learning platform that delivers gamified, interactive, micro-learning activities to 1) reinforce information taught in iLookOut's (3-hour) core learning program, 2) augment this learning with new material, and 3) provide opportunities to practice applying what has been learned. ECPs can complete micro-learning activities on their smartphones, and receive 3 additional hours of professional development credit (at no cost). Since deploying this platform, the majority of ECPs enrolling in the parent iLookOut study have engaged in >1 hour of micro-learning.
Because so many ECPs are willing to engage in iLookOut's micro-learning, and because spaced retrieval and spaced practice are known to improve learning, the investigators have reason to believe that this new intervention can help sustain ECPs' preparedness to appropriately identify and report suspected child abuse. What is not known is the rate of knowledge decay following iLookOut's core learning program; whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy (core + micro-learning) helps remediate decays in knowledge; and what is the best timing to introduce this reinforcement -immediately, or after a delay of some months.
iLookOut's micro-learning platform is fully integrated with the learning management system for iLookOut's core learning program, and a cognitive sequencing map helps ensure that micro-learning content is fully aligned with the core learning program. Upgrading the functionality of the current micro-learning activities will enable the investigators to capture the kind of granular, question-level data needed for rigorous research. Conducting a randomized controlled trial in Pennsylvania (where micro-learning has not yet been introduced) will allow the investigators to evaluate how well interactive, micro-learning activities improve learning, and more generally how a multi-faceted implementation strategy that utilizes mobile technology-based learning (ie, using smartphones) can better prepare ECPs to appropriately identify and report suspected child abuse.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- After completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, early childhood professionals will be randomized to receive follow-up micro-learning either immediately, or after a delay (3, 6, or 12 months). Decay in knowledge will be measured, as well as remediation of that decay following micro-learning.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Experimental | Other: Online interactive learning activitiesAfter completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning immediately. |
| 3 month delay | Experimental | Other: Online interactive learning activitiesAfter completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 3 months. |
| 6 month delay | Experimental | Other: Online interactive learning activitiesAfter completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 6 months. |
| 12 month delay | Experimental | Other: Online interactive learning activitiesAfter completing an online learning program about child abuse and its reporting, this group will receive follow-up micro-learning after a delay 12 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- At least 18 years of age
- Works or volunteers at a childcare facility in Pennsylvania
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Younger than 18 years of age
- Does not work or volunteer at a childcare facility in Pennsylvania
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Online interactive learning activities1. 3-hour video-storyline-based interactive learning program 2. Micro-learning activities that can be completed on mobile devices (eg, smartphones) | Other | 12 month delay, 3 month delay, 6 month delay, Immediate |
Primary outcome
Acceptable completion of iLookOut Micro-learning program measured by 50% of core program learners completing the micro-learning program.
Time frame: 5 years
Evaluate whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy that includes learners completing an initial core training that is reinforced by using a micro-learning program (core learning program + micro-learning) is a way to educate ECPs about child abuse and its reporting. We will judge the iLookOut intervention program to have an acceptable completion rate if: >50% of ECPs who complete iLookOut's core learning program also complete the micro-learning program.
Feasibility of iLookOut micro-learning program used for professional development measured by 75% of leaner self-reporting learner satisfaction using net promoter score.
Time frame: 5 years
Evaluate whether a multi-faceted implementation strategy that includes learners completing an initial core training followed by using a micro-learning program is a feasible way to educate ECPs about child abuse and its reporting. We will judge the iLookOut intervention feasible if: >75% of participants report endorsing the iLookOut micro-learning program, as measured by the a net promoter score that is >0. The net promoter scale consists of one question, How likely would you be to recommend this learning program to a fellow early childhood professional?, with responses measured on a -100 to +100.
2 secondary outcomes
Average knowledge score compared at 5-time points and measured by the iLookOut knowledge assessment.
Time frame: 5 years
Knowledge score decay and remediation measured by change in average knowledge score on the iLookOut knowledge assessment over 5 time points.
Time frame: 5 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Only de-identified data would be available for sharing.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Online interactive learning activities in people with Child Abuse, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acceptable completion of iLookOut Micro-learning program measured by 50% of core program learners completing the micro-learning program. (time frame: 5 years). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Aug 2026.