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Parent-Child RelationsLPNCT04576481

Literacy Promotion Using Automated Hovering

A study testing Texting, Regret and Lottery in people with Parent-Child Relations and Parenting, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to incorporate behavioral economics (BE) approaches to determine whether 3 novel interventions of varying intensity improve the frequency of parent-child reading behaviors among low-income families. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 to 24 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Parent-Child Relations, Parenting, Literacy
What is being tested?
Texting, Regret and Lottery
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
55 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
17 Nov 2020to 4 Feb 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 6 to 24 months
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Parents who:
  • Have an infant aged 6-24 months
  • Have access to a smart phone with text messaging capabilities
  • Have completed an informed consent
  • Children who:
  • Are aged 6-24 months old

Who cannot join

  • Parents who:
  • Non-English speaking
  • Children who:
  • Were born premature (estimated gestational age < 35 weeks)
  • Have been diagnosed with congenital malformations or genetic syndromes which place them at risk for developmental delays

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Literary Promotion Using Automated Hovering to Improve Development in Young Low-Income Children

The purpose of this study is to incorporate behavioral economics (BE) approaches to determine whether 3 novel interventions of varying intensity improve the frequency of parent-child reading behaviors among low-income families. In the first phase, 10 parents will be recruited to participate in rapid cycle interviews to determine the appropriateness of text messages. In the second phase, 45 participants will be randomized to comparative groups to test the effects of automated hovering and other BE approaches on frequency of parent-child shared reading. Investigators long-term goal is to test the effects of these approaches to promote child language and socio-emotional development.

Read the detailed description

Early childhood is a sensitive period in which young children develop language and socio-emotional skills foundational for school readiness. Unfortunately, poor vulnerable children experience disparities in these critical areas of development. Parent-child shared reading can help ameliorate these disparities, yet low-income parents do not consistently engage in this activity. Behavioral economics approaches utilizing automated hovering (AH) have the potential to increase parent-child shared reading through text messages and financial inducements.

The study design is a two-phase study consisting of a qualitative component followed by a prospective, randomized comparative group trial to test the effects of AH approaches to increase parent-child shared reading. A total of 55 eligible children and their parents will be recruited from participating practices to achieve a diverse sample of children.

In the first phase, 10 parents will be recruited to participate in brief rapid cycle interviews to assess the appropriateness of text message reminders. In the second phase, forty-five participants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive one of the 3 AH interventions: 1) daily text message reminders (texting), 2) daily text message reminders with social comparisons (regret) or 3) daily text message reminders with social comparisons and weekly lottery entries (lottery). All interventions are related to principles of behavioral economics in order to provide external motivation. There will be 15 participants per group to adequately assess feasibility and acceptability, the primary outcome.

Descriptive statistics for demographic, home reading environment, and parenting stress measured at baseline will be examined across the three groups to assess the success of the randomization. To assess feasibility and acceptability, Investigators will assess the proportion of participants who receive and report a daily reading behavior each week across all groups, the proportion of participants who access coaching content in group 2 \& 3, and the proportion of participants who participate in the weekly lottery in group 3, and satisfaction scores in all groups. Secondary outcomes including differences between groups in weekly reading frequency, home reading environment, and child socio-emotional scores between groups will be assessed using standard inferential statistics and intention-to-treat analysis.

The results of this study may assist health care providers and researchers in testing the feasibility of AH approaches to improve parent-child shared reading and prepare for a larger efficacy trial.

Being tested
Texting, Regret, Lottery
Medical subject headings
Literacy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • TextingBehavioural

    Text Messages will be sent to participants using Penn's Way to Health Platform. Participants will be asked to reply to daily text messages on daily shared reading activities including the titles of books and time spent reading.

  • RegretBehavioural

    Personalized coaching content will be made available to participants through links in the text messages and will provide comparisons of their reading frequency with that of other participants.

  • LotteryBehavioural

    Participants who reply to a text message that they read on a particular day will be entered into daily and weekly drawings to receive cash payments.

Study groups in NCT04576481
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Group 1: TextingActive comparatorConsist of daily text messages on shared reading
Receives: Behavioral: Texting
Group 2: RegretExperimentalWill consist of Group 1 plus social comparisons.
Receives: Behavioral: Texting; Behavioral: Regret
Group 3: LotteryExperimentalWill consist of Group 2 plus availability of a weekly lottery.
Receives: Behavioral: Texting; Behavioral: Regret; Behavioral: Lottery

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Acceptability Survey

    To determine acceptability, participants will be assessed on their overall satisfaction (5-point Likert scale 1=strong disagree, 2=disagree, 3=not sure, 4=agree and 5= strongly agree) with the study delivery intervention and answered survey questions regarding likes and dislikes concerning the intervention group they received following the intervention period.

    Measured: 2 months

  2. Feasibility of Study

    Percentage of study participants who completed the 2-month follow-up

    Measured: 2 months

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Change in Score of Cognitive Stimulation Provided in the Home Measure - (StimQ-Read)

    To determine change in home reading environment, Investigators will examine differences in the Read subscale of the measure of Cognitive Stimulation provided in the home (StimQ) from baseline to 2 months. The Read subscale of the StimQ is a validated 14-item parent self-report questionnaire designed to measure of the home reading environment for children ages 5 to 72 months of age with a maximum score of 18 and a minimum score of 0. The higher score indicates a better home reading environment. The change in score from baseline to follow-up (2-months) will be used.

    Measured: 2 months

  2. Change in Score for The Parenting Stress Index - Short Form (PSI-SF)

    To determine change in parenting stress, Investigators will examine differences in the Parenting Stress Index- Short Form (PSI-SF) from baseline to follow-up (2 months). The PSI-SF is a validated 36-item scale that measures parenting stress, and it has been shown to have excellent internal consistency and to be positively associated with maternal psychological distress. The scores can range from 36 to 180 with an higher scores overall indicating higher levels of parenting stress. The change in score from baseline to follow-up (2-months) will be used.

    Measured: 2 months

  3. Change in Weekly Parent-Child Shared Reading Frequency

    Investigators will measure reading frequency as the average number of days per week of reported parent-child shared reading.

    This is a measure of parent's self-reported reading frequency using question 2 from Cognitive Stimulation Provided in the Home Measure Reading Subscales, Parents are asked "How many days each week do you read children's books to your child?". Scores will be collected at baseline and at the 2-month follow-up. Change in reading frequency will be computed by subtracting the days reading at baseline from the days reading at follow-up.

    Measured: 2 months

  4. Measure of Child Socio-Emotional Development Using Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA)

    Investigators will measure child socio-emotional development at 2 months using the Devereax Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), a validated 33-item parent report of social emotional problems for children 9-36 months of age. All 33 items are used to calculate the raw total protective factor (TPF). 18/33 items are used to calculate raw Initiative sub scale (infant's ability to use independent thought and action to meet his/her needs). 15/33 items are used to calculate raw Attachment/Relationships sub scale (mutual, strong, long-lasting relationship between the infant and significant adults such as family members, and teachers). Higher scores indicate greater social emotional development.

    For all 33 items parents can report (Never 0, Rarely 1, Occasionally 2, Frequently 3, Very Frequently 4). Raw total scores can range from 0-132, with higher scores indicating a better outcome.

    Measured: 2 months

  5. Measure of Child Language Development Using MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) - Percentiles

    Investigators measured child language development at 2 months using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (CDI), a validated parent report scale of early child language development for children 8-30 months of age. Parents are asked to indicate the words their child understands but does not yet say in the first column (understands). For words that their child understands, Parents are asked to indicate which words their child says in the second column (understand and says).

    The raw total scores are inputted into a norming table for the CDI where a production (understand and says) and comprehension (understands) scores are generated based on the child's age and gender. Total scores can range from (0-178) with higher scores on the norming chart correlating to a higher percentile in comprehension or production. Total score is calculated by using summed scores where: blank = 0, understands = 1 and understands and speaks=2. Total scores were converted to percentile scores.

    Measured: 2 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Oct 2020
  2. Study start17 Nov 2020
  3. Primary completion4 Feb 2022
  4. Study completion4 Feb 2022

Resources

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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The intervention consists of 3 intervention groups. Participants will be stratified by site and randomized 1:1:1 to receive one of the 3 AH interventions for an 8-week duration.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
55 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04576481
Sponsor's protocol ID
19-017199
Acronym
LP
Status last verified
Sep 2024
First submitted
25 Sep 2020
Last updated
15 Nov 2024
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: A complete, cleaned, and de-identified dataset will be made available to other investigators after all analyses have been conducted and within twelve months of the end of the final year of funding to allow for publication of all study aims. To obtain this data set, other investigators will need to contact the study Principal Investigator (PI) who will provide a data sharing agreement. The data sharing agreement will permit a deidentified data set to be shared once an Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol has been approved at the investigators' home institution and the investigators have signed a pledge to not attempt to identify individual study subjects. The data set will be made available on a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) or through a secure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site.

Publications

  • National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development; Shonkoff JP, Phillips DA, editors. From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK225557/

    PubMed 25077268
  • Rosenberg SA, Zhang D, Robinson CC. Prevalence of developmental delays and participation in early intervention services for young children. Pediatrics. 2008 Jun;121(6):e1503-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-1680. Epub 2008 May 26.

    PubMed 18504295
  • Blair C, Raver CC. Poverty, Stress, and Brain Development: New Directions for Prevention and Intervention. Acad Pediatr. 2016 Apr;16(3 Suppl):S30-6. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.01.010.

    PubMed 27044699
  • The pediatrician's role in development and implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and/or an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Children with Disabilities. Pediatrics. 1999 Jul;104(1 Pt 1):124-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.104.1.124.

    PubMed 10390275
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Economic costs associated with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and vision impairment--United States, 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004 Jan 30;53(3):57-9.

    PubMed 14749614
  • Cates CB, Dreyer BP, Berkule SB, White LJ, Arevalo JA, Mendelsohn AL. Infant communication and subsequent language development in children from low-income families: the role of early cognitive stimulation. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012 Sep;33(7):577-85. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e318264c10f.

    PubMed 22947884
  • Hart B, Risley TR. Meaningful differences in the everyday experience of young American children. Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes Publishing Company; 1995.

  • Zuckerman B, Augustyn M. Books and reading: evidence-based standard of care whose time has come. Acad Pediatr. 2011 Jan-Feb;11(1):11-7. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2010.09.007.

    PubMed 21272819
  • Payne AC, Whitehurst GJ, Angell aL. The role of home literacy environment in the development of language ability in preschool children from low-income families. Early Child Res Q. 1994:427-440.

  • Weinberger J. A longitudinal study of children's early literacy experiences at home and later literacy development at home and school. J Res Reading. 1996;19:14-24.

  • Senechal M, Lefevre J, Thomas EM, Daley KE. Differential effects of home literacy experiences on the development of oral and written language. Reading Res Q. 1998;33:96-116.

  • Jimenez ME, Mendelsohn AL, Lin Y, Shelton P, Reichman N. Early Shared Reading Is Associated with Less Harsh Parenting. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019 Sep;40(7):530-537. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000687.

    PubMed 31107765
  • Jimenez ME, Hudson SV, Lima D, Mendelsohn AL, Pellerano M, Crabtree BF. Perspectives on shared reading among a sample of Latino parents. Child Care Health Dev. 2019 Mar;45(2):292-299. doi: 10.1111/cch.12634. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

    PubMed 30471139
  • Mendelsohn AL, Mogilner LN, Dreyer BP, Forman JA, Weinstein SC, Broderick M, Cheng KJ, Magloire T, Moore T, Napier C. The impact of a clinic-based literacy intervention on language development in inner-city preschool children. Pediatrics. 2001 Jan;107(1):130-4. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.1.130.

    PubMed 11134446
  • Asch DA, Muller RW, Volpp KG. Automated hovering in health care--watching over the 5000 hours. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jul 5;367(1):1-3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1203869. Epub 2012 Jun 20. No abstract available.

    PubMed 22716935

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Texting, Regret and Lottery in people with Parent-Child Relations and Parenting, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 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 6 inclusion and 5 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Nov 2024. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 Nov 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Acceptability Survey (time frame: 2 months). 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?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04576481, which also lists 25 linked publications.

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 15 Nov 2024; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.

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