Sunday, May 03, 2009

Ohio: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hospital Based SBS Education

I read again the abstract of an evaluation of "Love Me, Never Shake Me", an Ohio SBS education progam sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Ohio. Link to program; Link to abstract

On second blush, some interesting points to keep in mind:

- even though awareness of SBS is high, parents still say the education is important;
- hospital-based education is still likely to be the only opportunity to educate a new parent;
- a significant percentage of mothers don't appear to live with the father, emphasizing the importance of helping single mothers discuss SBS with unrelated males in the household.
Secondary Analysis of the "Love Me...Never Shake Me" SBS Education Program, Deyo, Grace; Skybo, Theresa; Carroll, Alisa, Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, v32 n11
p1017-1025 Nov 2008

Objective: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is preventable; however, an estimated 21-74 per 100,000 children worldwide are victims annually. This study examined the effectiveness of an SBS prevention program in the US.

Methods: A descriptive, secondary analysis of the Prevent Child Abuse Ohio (PCAO) "Love Me...Never Shake Me" SBS education program database included 7,051 women who completed a commitment statement, pre- and post-test, and follow-up survey.

Results: Participants were mostly White (76%), had at least some college education (62%), were privately insured (62%), and lived with the father and infant (63%).
Mothers knew of the dangers of shaking (96%) and recommended SBS education for all parents (98%) because they found it
helpful (97%).
Scores on the pre- and post-tests were significantly different, but there was no difference based on education site or demographics. There was a significant increase in a pre/post-test item pertaining to infant crying.

At follow-up, participants remembered postpartum SBS education (98%), but
post-discharge did not receive SBS education from their primary care provider (62%). Most mothers practiced infant soothing techniques (79%) provided in the education; however, few women practiced self-coping techniques (36%) and accessed community support services (9%).

Conclusions: Postpartum SBS prevention education should continue. Development of SBS programs should result from these study findings focusing on education content and program evaluation.

Practice implications: Mothers report that shaken baby syndrome education is important for all parents and memorable at follow-up.

Postpartum SBS education should continue because the hospital is the primary place they receive education. Mothers' report they less frequently receive education from healthcare sources post-discharge.  
Diligence of primary care providers to incorporate SBS prevention education in well child visits will increase parental exposure to this information.

Education may need to place greater emphasis on infant crying and soothing, as well as parent support and self-coping techniques versus the dangers of shaking.


Other resources:

Quebec hospital education program - Goulet et al. (2009) - Link to abstract

Vancouver PURPLE evaluation - Barr et al. (2009) - Link to abstract

PURPLE evaluation - Barr et al. (2009) - Link to abstract

Evaluation of SBS education techniques - Russell et al. (2008) - Link to abstract

Upstate New York SBS Prevention Project - Dias et al. (2005) - Link to abstract

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