title: The effects and costs of the universal parent group program - all children in focus: a study protocol for a randomized wait-list controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent decades, parents have been involved in programs that aim to improve parenting style and reduce child behavior problems. Research of preventive parenting programs has shown that these interventions generally have a positive influence on both parents and children. However, to our knowledge there is a gap in the scientific literature when it comes to randomized controlled trials of brief, manual-based structured programs which address general parenting among the population, and focus on promoting health. A four-session universal health promotion parent group program named All Children in Focus was developed. It aims at promoting parental competence and children's positive development with the parent-child relationship as the target. There is currently no randomized controlled trial existing of the program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective multicenter randomized wait-list controlled trial is being conducted. Approximately 600 parents with children ranging in age from 3-12 years have been recruited in eleven municipalities and city districts in the County of Stockholm, Sweden. Parents are randomized at baseline to an intervention group, which receives the program directly, or to a waiting-list control group, which participates in the program six months later. Changes in parenting and child health and development are assessed with measures immediately post-intervention and six months after the baseline. Observations of a minor group of parents and children are conducted to explore possible relations between parental reports and observed behaviors, as well as changes in the interaction between parent and child. Further, data collected within the evaluation will also be applied to evaluate the possible cost-effectiveness of the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper describes a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Except for the quantitative outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of All Children in Focus, this protocol also describes health economic and qualitative analyses to deepen the knowledge of the program. We further discuss some issues regarding the implementation of the program in municipalities and city districts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN70202532.
authors.affiliation: Department of public health sciences, Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. lene.lindberg@ki.se.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulfsdotter
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jalling
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skärstrand
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalouni
authors.forename: Kajsa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lönn Rhodin
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Månsdotter
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enebrink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D013548:Sweden; D014850:Waiting Lists
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD008225
references.pmid: 22336837
references.citation: Health Econ. 2006 Jul;15(7):653-64
references.pmid: 16498700
references.citation: Prev Sci. 2012 Jun;13(3):252-66
references.pmid: 22232018
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2007 Jun;35(3):475-95
references.pmid: 17333363
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2006 Jan;26(1):86-104
references.pmid: 16280191
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008 May;36(4):567-89
references.pmid: 18205039
references.citation: Ann Fam Med. 2004 May-Jun;2(3):204-8
references.pmid: 15209195
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Mar 17;(3):CD003680
references.pmid: 20238324
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2010 Jun 23;10:364
references.pmid: 20573236
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 1998 Oct;66(5):715-30
references.pmid: 9803690
references.citation: Psychol Assess. 2005 Mar;17(1):15-27
references.pmid: 15769225
references.citation: Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2012 Oct;13(4):364-72
references.pmid: 22464178
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2008 Jan 22;8:20
references.pmid: 18211677
references.citation: Behav Ther. 2010 Dec;41(4):530-42
references.pmid: 21035616
references.citation: Arch Dis Child. 2004 Jun;89(6):519-25
references.pmid: 15155394
references.citation: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1995 Oct;36(7):1141-59
references.pmid: 8847377
references.citation: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2009 Mar 04;3(1):7
references.pmid: 19261188
references.citation: Child Care Health Dev. 2010 Mar;36(2):198-207
references.pmid: 20015278
references.citation: Health Promot Int. 2011 Dec;26 Suppl 1:i10-28
references.pmid: 22079931
references.citation: BMJ. 2008 Feb 9;336(7639):318-21
references.pmid: 18244958
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
references.pmid: 3806354
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Aug;52(4):666-78
references.pmid: 6470293
references.citation: J Adv Nurs. 2005 Jul;51(2):174-81
references.pmid: 15963189
references.citation: Soz Praventivmed. 2001;46(5):294-302
references.pmid: 11759336
references.citation: Eur J Public Health. 2007 Oct;17(5):508-13
references.pmid: 17170020
references.citation: Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 1999 Jun;2(2):71-90
references.pmid: 11225933
references.citation: Arch Dis Child. 2008 Feb;93(2):102-4
references.pmid: 17848489
references.citation: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2001 Oct;42(7):943-52
references.pmid: 11693589
references.citation: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;47(1):99-111
references.pmid: 16405646
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003 Aug;85(2):348-62
references.pmid: 12916575
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 2004 Jan;19(1):51-6
references.pmid: 14748860
references.citation: J Fam Psychol. 2008 Aug;22(4):506-17
references.pmid: 18729665