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01-05-2021 | Care

Effects of the Family Check-Up 4 Health on Parenting and Child Behavioral Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Primary Care

Authors: Cady Berkel, Emily Fu, Allison J. Carroll, Charlton Wilson, Angelica Tovar-Huffman, Anne Mauricio, Jenna Rudo-Stern, Kevin J. Grimm, Thomas J. Dishion, Justin D. Smith

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

The Family Check-Up 4 Health (FCU4Health) is an adaptation of the Family Check-Up (FCU) for delivery in primary care settings. While maintaining the original FCU’s focus on parenting and child behavioral health, we added content targeting health behaviors. This study evaluated whether the adapted FCU maintained positive effects on parenting (positive behavior support, limit setting, parental warmth) and child behavioral health (self-regulation, conduct problems, emotional problems). Pediatric (6–12 years) primary care patients with a BMI ≥ 85^th%ile (n = 240) were recruited from primary care clinics in Phoenix. Children were 75% Latino, 49% female, and 73% Medicaid recipients. This type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial compared families randomized to FCU4Health (n = 141) or usual care (n = 99). FCU4Health was delivered over a period of 6 months. This study focuses on a priori secondary outcomes included parenting and child behavioral health targets of the original FCU, assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Significant improvements were found for the FCU4Health condition, compared to usual care, in parenting from baseline to the 3-month assessment [β = .17 (.01; .32)]. Parenting predicted improvements in child self-regulation at 6-months [β = .17 (.03; .30)], which in turn predicted reductions in conduct problems [β = − .38 (− .51; − .23)] and emotional problems [β = − .24 (− .38; − .09)] at 12 months. Ethnicity and language of delivery (English or Spanish) did not moderate these effects. The FCU4Health can improve parenting and child behavioral health outcomes when delivered in primary care.

Trial Registration Trial registration number: NCT03013309 ClinicalTrials.gov

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Title: Effects of the Family Check-Up 4 Health on Parenting and Child Behavioral Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Primary Care
Authors: Cady Berkel
Emily Fu
Allison J. Carroll
Charlton Wilson
Angelica Tovar-Huffman
Anne Mauricio
Jenna Rudo-Stern
Kevin J. Grimm
Thomas J. Dishion
Justin D. Smith
Publication date: 01-05-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Care
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01213-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Effects of the Family Check-Up 4 Health on Parenting and Child Behavioral Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Primary Care

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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