This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
An intervention to help parents manage behaviour problems in young children had a lasting benefit. Researchers videoed parents and children at home, then provided detailed feedback on their interactions. They found improvements in the children’s behaviour that lasted for at least 2 years.
Young children with behaviour problems may be restless, aggressive or impulsive. These behaviours have been linked with mental and physical health problems, social difficulties and delays in learning. Early intervention could address behaviour problems before they become established.
This study included 1 and 2 year olds who had early signs of behaviour problems. All received standard care from GPs and health visitors. But in addition, half were assigned to the video feedback (VIPP) group. This meant 6 home visits from healthcare professionals, who filmed parents and children doing activities together. The professionals then provided parents with feedback. They aimed to promote parents’ sensitivity, ability to identify their child’s behaviour and respond appropriately, and provide sensitive, consistent discipline.
At 5 months, researchers found fewer behaviour problems in the group who received video feedback. This effect was largely sustained 2 years later. The researchers say the approach could be an effective part of routine NHS care.
Further information on child behaviour problems is available on the NHS website.
What’s the issue?
As many as 1 in 10 children have behaviour problems. They can make up 30% of a GP’s consultations with children, and account for almost half (45%) of children’s referrals to community services.
Behaviour problems can have a long-term impact. They are associated with mental and physical health problems, as well as learning and social difficulties. They also cause distress within the family. In the long-term, these childhood problems can have broader costs. They increase the risks of criminality, antisocial behaviour, and unemployment.
The quality and style of care given by parents can influence children’s behaviour. Young children whose parents are less sensitive, and use harsh discipline, can be at risk of developing behaviour problems. Most parenting programmes therefore address sensitivity and discipline.
Early behaviour problems can be spotted in 1-2 year olds. Intervening quickly, before problems become established, might therefore increase the impact of behaviour programmes. However, few effective interventions are available for parents and very young children.
This study is part of the ‘Healthy Start, Happy Start’ project. The video feedback was intended to help parents become more ‘in tune’ with their child, and to understand subtle behaviour cues. It aimed to encourage parents to empathise with their child, and respond sensitively.
The study aimed to find out whether video feedback could be used routinely within the NHS.
What’s new?
The study was carried out at 6 NHS Trusts in England. A brief screening questionnaire identified children with behaviour problems who were, for example, restless, aggressive, impulsive or had tantrums. The study included 300 children, aged 1 or 2 years old.
All parents had access to usual care. This was often advice from a GP or health visitor, or support from children’s mental health services. In addition, half the parents had 6 sessions of video feedback. Professionals (health visitors, nursery nurses and psychologists, or others working in child health who had been trained to provide the intervention) visited homes every 2 weeks.
In the first half of the session, the parent was filmed reading, playing, eating with their child, or doing other everyday activities together. In the second half, parents received feedback prepared from the previous visit.
The researchers carried out a structured interview with parents at the end of the 5-month programme. Parents also answered questionnaires.
At 5 months:
- structured interviews found that children in the video feedback group had fewer behaviour problems than those receiving usual care; the average difference corresponded to mild tantrums (shouting) rather than severe (breaking things), or happening once or twice a week rather than daily
- parent questionnaires rated children’s behaviour better in the video feedback group than in usual care group
- the programme had more impact on behaviour such as hitting and tantrums (conduct) than on restlessness (hyperactivity), which is thought to be more ingrained and difficult to change with psychological treatments
- the programme had most impact on those who received at least 4 sessions, and in those with more severe behaviour problems.
Two years later, structured interviews showed that children in the video feedback group still had lower levels of behaviour problems than those who had received usual care. The difference between the groups was only slightly less than in the earlier assessment. The effect remained stronger on behaviour than on hyperactivity. The programme did not affect parents’ mood, anxiety, or functioning as a couple.
The researchers looked at the cost-effectiveness (value for money) of the programme. They found that the video intervention cost £1466 per family (£1450 more than standard care). The question is therefore, how much commissioners are willing to pay to help parents manage their children’s behaviour.
Why is this important?
This study shows that it is possible to provide a video feedback programme as part of routine NHS care. It was effective in 1 and 2 year olds showing early signs of behaviour problems. Differences in behaviour could still be seen 2 years later, which suggests that intervening early could stop problems getting worse.
Behaviour problems were identified using a simple, brief screening questionnaire. This approach that could be used routinely by health visitors and others working to help young children and their families. However, the NHS does not currently have standard care pathways for early-onset behaviour problems.
The research supports the idea that those with particularly high levels of behaviour problems may benefit most, and that more sessions lead to better outcomes.
The analysis of costs was not conclusive. Costs related to programme (such as visits to the GP) can be measured. But the long-term impact on society (including criminality, poor health and employment), could not be quantified. It may be that long-term benefits for society would outweigh the immediate costs of the programme.
What’s next?
The researchers are now following children up 5 years after the original study. They hope this will provide more information for policy makers about long-term benefits and value for money of the intervention. The intervention is not used routinely, but some services have already adopted it.
It would be helpful to identify the groups of children who may benefit most. Other research is testing the programme in different groups, including foster parents. More parents in this study had post-school qualifications than in the average population. It would be useful to see if the programme is as effective in the general population.
This programme focused on sensitivity and discipline and was most effective at decreasing conduct problems. The researchers would like to better understand the aspects of the programme which brought benefits.
They would also like to explore whether booster sessions or additional interventions later in childhood could enhance the benefits of this early programme.
You may be interested to read
This summary is based on: O’Farrelly C, and others. A video-feedback parenting intervention to prevent enduring behaviour problems in at-risk children aged 12-36 months: the Healthy Start, Happy Start RCT. Health Technology Assessment 2021;25:29
Results of the main trial: O’Farrelly C, and others. A brief home-based parenting intervention to reduce behavior problems in young children: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics 2021;175:6
A news piece from the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Education: Video-led feedback programme reduces behaviour problems in children as young as 12 months.
The researchers' blog for health visitors about the study.
A video on the Healthy Start, Happy Start study.
Funding: This research was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme.
Additional funding also came from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London.
Conflicts of Interest: The study authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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