The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up

Abstract Background Young children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) are at significant risk of negative short- and long-term outcomes. Although early parenting support interventions are recommended and requested, there is a l...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anton Dahlberg, Vedrana Bolic Baric, Filipa Sampaio, Karin Fängström
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02618-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849331846529155072
author Anton Dahlberg
Vedrana Bolic Baric
Filipa Sampaio
Karin Fängström
author_facet Anton Dahlberg
Vedrana Bolic Baric
Filipa Sampaio
Karin Fängström
author_sort Anton Dahlberg
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Young children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) are at significant risk of negative short- and long-term outcomes. Although early parenting support interventions are recommended and requested, there is a lack of interventions specifically designed for this group and adapted to the Swedish context. Based on this gap, a parenting support intervention for parents with children aged 2–6 years with subclinical NDDs and EBP has been co-created with clinicians and parents. The project described in this study protocol aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this new group-based parenting intervention. Methods The project uses a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with pre-post measures and a 3-month follow-up. The intervention is provided to families with children who are referred to child health psychologists at the child pediatric outpatient clinic in Uppsala Region, Sweden. Outcomes will include child EBP and parent self-efficacy, stress, well-being, and quality of life, as well as costs for the intervention, health care use, and QALYs. Discussion The project could lead to improved mental health in both children and parents through participation in the group-based parenting intervention. The study design, with longitudinal data from both children and/or their parents, will provide valuable insights into the trajectories of mental health and well-being within this group. In addition, the inclusion of young children as informants will provide important information about their experiences. Furthermore, the use of pre-, post- and follow-up questionnaires will allow reliable and clinically significant changes to be assessed and our findings to be compared with randomized trials in similar populations. The results of this project will be relevant to children with subclinical NDDs and their parents, as well as to health care organizations and the scientific community. The intervention is well adapted to the end users and the clinical context, as it has been co-created with clinicians and parents. Trial registration ISRCTN10835479 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10835479 , date of registration 2024-10-08.
format Article
id doaj-art-d2de41a08f234c09afcaed5d10645e2b
institution Kabale University
issn 2050-7283
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Psychology
spelling doaj-art-d2de41a08f234c09afcaed5d10645e2b2025-08-20T03:46:23ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-03-011311910.1186/s40359-025-02618-yThe effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-upAnton Dahlberg0Vedrana Bolic Baric1Filipa Sampaio2Karin Fängström3Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping UniversityChild Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityChild Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Young children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) are at significant risk of negative short- and long-term outcomes. Although early parenting support interventions are recommended and requested, there is a lack of interventions specifically designed for this group and adapted to the Swedish context. Based on this gap, a parenting support intervention for parents with children aged 2–6 years with subclinical NDDs and EBP has been co-created with clinicians and parents. The project described in this study protocol aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this new group-based parenting intervention. Methods The project uses a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with pre-post measures and a 3-month follow-up. The intervention is provided to families with children who are referred to child health psychologists at the child pediatric outpatient clinic in Uppsala Region, Sweden. Outcomes will include child EBP and parent self-efficacy, stress, well-being, and quality of life, as well as costs for the intervention, health care use, and QALYs. Discussion The project could lead to improved mental health in both children and parents through participation in the group-based parenting intervention. The study design, with longitudinal data from both children and/or their parents, will provide valuable insights into the trajectories of mental health and well-being within this group. In addition, the inclusion of young children as informants will provide important information about their experiences. Furthermore, the use of pre-, post- and follow-up questionnaires will allow reliable and clinically significant changes to be assessed and our findings to be compared with randomized trials in similar populations. The results of this project will be relevant to children with subclinical NDDs and their parents, as well as to health care organizations and the scientific community. The intervention is well adapted to the end users and the clinical context, as it has been co-created with clinicians and parents. Trial registration ISRCTN10835479 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10835479 , date of registration 2024-10-08.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02618-yYoung childrenSubclinical neurodevelopmental disordersEmotional and behavioral problemsParenting support
spellingShingle Anton Dahlberg
Vedrana Bolic Baric
Filipa Sampaio
Karin Fängström
The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
BMC Psychology
Young children
Subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders
Emotional and behavioral problems
Parenting support
title The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
title_full The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
title_fullStr The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
title_full_unstemmed The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
title_short The effect and cost-effectiveness of a group-based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems: protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) with a pre-, post and follow-up
title_sort effect and cost effectiveness of a group based parenting intervention for parents of preschool children with subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems protocol for a multiple baseline single case experimental design sced with a pre post and follow up
topic Young children
Subclinical neurodevelopmental disorders
Emotional and behavioral problems
Parenting support
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02618-y
work_keys_str_mv AT antondahlberg theeffectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT vedranabolicbaric theeffectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT filipasampaio theeffectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT karinfangstrom theeffectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT antondahlberg effectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT vedranabolicbaric effectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT filipasampaio effectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup
AT karinfangstrom effectandcosteffectivenessofagroupbasedparentinginterventionforparentsofpreschoolchildrenwithsubclinicalneurodevelopmentaldisordersandmentalhealthproblemsprotocolforamultiplebaselinesinglecaseexperimentaldesignscedwithaprepostandfollowup