Manuscript Details

Olds, D. L., Holmberg, J. R., Donelan-McCall, N., Luckey, D. W., Knudtson, M. D., & Robinson, J. (2014). Effects of home visits by paraprofessionals and by nurses on children follow-up of a randomized trial at ages 6 and 9 years. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(2), 114-121.

High rating
Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Established on race; established on SES; outcome measures not assessable at baseline

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Notes from the review of this manuscript

In the full sample, the comparison of nurse home visiting to no home visiting at the 9-year follow-up rates moderate for three outcomes with high attrition: total behavioral problems, internalizing behavior, and externalizing behavior. Outcomes for the low psychological resources subgroup rate moderate because attrition information was not reported and was not available from the author.

Child Development and School Readiness
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Attention dysfunction - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years High
0.53 Not statistically significant, p = 0.22 394 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Attention dysfunction - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years High
0.34 Not statistically significant, p = 0.07 378 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Externalizing - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years High
0.87 Not statistically significant, p = 0.66 411 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Externalizing - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years High
0.76 Not statistically significant, p = 0.42 396 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Externalizing - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years High
1.34 Not statistically significant, p = 0.33 394 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Externalizing - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.64 Not statistically significant, p = 0.25 378 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Internalizing - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years High
1.35 Not statistically significant, p = 0.60 411 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Internalizing - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years High
0.42 Not statistically significant, p = 0.28 396 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Internalizing - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years High
0.96 Not statistically significant, p = 0.90 394 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Internalizing - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.44 Not statistically significant, p = 0.08 378 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Total behavioral problems - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years High
1.04 Not statistically significant, p = 0.91 411 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Total behavioral problems - 6 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years High
0.45 Not statistically significant, p = 0.08 396 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver)
Total behavioral problems - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years High
0.97 Not statistically significant, p = 0.94 394 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Total behavioral problems - 9 year, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.76 Not statistically significant, p = 0.46 378 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver)
Subgroups
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Any therapeutic services - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.40 Not statistically significant, p = 0.07 165 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Any therapeutic services - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.63 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Any therapeutic services - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.25 Not statistically significant, p = 0.23 155 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Any therapeutic services - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.15 Not statistically significant, p = 0.51 127 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.03 Not statistically significant, p = 0.85 164 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.13 Not statistically significant, p = 0.44 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.05 Not statistically significant, p = 0.77 156 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.02 Not statistically significant, p = 0.93 128 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - averaged over 6 and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.04 Not statistically significant, p = 0.79 156 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Arithmetic achievement standard score - averaged over 6 and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.07 Not statistically significant, p = 0.63 128 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Behvioral regulation in testing - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.32 Statistically significant, p = 0.05 164 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Behvioral regulation in testing - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.23 Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 140 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Dysregulated aggression - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.36 Statistically significant, p = 0.02 162 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Dysregulated aggression - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.26 Not statistically significant, p = 0.12 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Grade retention - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.15 Not statistically significant, p = 0.62 155 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Grade retention - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.29 Not statistically significant, p = 0.38 127 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Intellectual functioning - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.18 Not statistically significant, p = 0.26 166 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Intellectual functioning - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.16 Not statistically significant, p = 0.35 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Percent incoherent stories - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.50 Statistically significant, p = 0.00 162 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Percent incoherent stories - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.23 Not statistically significant, p = 0.17 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.22 Not statistically significant, p = 0.17 164 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.13 Not statistically significant, p = 0.46 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.21 Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 156 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.21 Not statistically significant, p = 0.22 128 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - averaged over 6 and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.22 Not statistically significant, p = 0.13 156 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Reading achievement standard score - averaged over 6 and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.17 Not statistically significant, p = 0.27 128 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Receptive language - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.16 Not statistically significant, p = 0.28 163 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Receptive language - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.21 Not statistically significant, p = 0.16 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Receptive language - averaged over 2, 4, and 6 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.02 Not statistically significant, p = 0.22 163 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Receptive language - averaged over 2, 4, and 6 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.30 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 141 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Special education/remedial services - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.03 Not statistically significant, p = 0.89 155 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Special education/remedial services - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.46 Not statistically significant, p = 0.06 127 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 6 years Moderate
0.13 Not statistically significant, p = 0.39 160 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - 6 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 6 years Moderate
0.33 Statistically significant, p = 0.05 138 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (6 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.03 Not statistically significant, p = 0.86 153 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.33 Not statistically significant, p = 0.08 126 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - averaged over 4, 6, and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.14 Not statistically significant, p = 0.24 153 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Sustained attention - averaged over 4, 6, and 9 years, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.36 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 126 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Visual attention/task switching errors - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.30 Not statistically significant, p = 0.08 154 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Visual attention/task switching errors - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.25 Not statistically significant, p = 0.16 126 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Working memory errors - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 2 9 years Moderate
0.13 Not statistically significant, p = 0.46 150 children Paraprofessional home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Working memory errors - 9 year, low psych resources, treatment 1 vs. 3 9 years Moderate
0.26 Not statistically significant, p = 0.15 123 children Nurse home visiting pregnancy to 2 years vs. comparison (9 year follow up, Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant

This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:

Race/Ethnicity

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if Hispanic ethnicity was reported separately or respondents could select two or more race or ethnicity categories.

Black or African American
15%
Hispanic or Latino
48%
White
35%
Unknown
3%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Colorado
Study Participants

Pregnant women were referred to the study by staff at clinics serving low-income women in Denver, Colorado. Women were eligible to be included in the study if they were eligible for Medicaid or were uninsured, and had no previous live births. Women were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: a control condition, paraprofessional home visiting, and nurse home visiting. Randomization occurred within strata defined by maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, and maternal residence (geography).A total of 735 women were randomized: 255 into the control group, 245 into the paraprofessional home visiting group, and 235 into the nurse home visiting group. A total of 47.3 to 56 percent of children in the final analytic sample were boys (depending on treatment condition and follow-up period). A total of 12.9 to 17.6 percent of women in the final analytic sample were African American, 42.4 to 48.6 percent were Latino, and 33.7 to 40.1 percent were white. On average, at enrollment women had completed 11 years of school and were 19 or 20 years old. Average annual household incomes ranged from $12,308 to $13,561 and census tract poverty ranged from 20 to 21 percent. The percentage of women with low psychological resources ranged from 32.8 to 47.8.

Setting

Denver, Colorado

Comparison Conditions

The comparison group did not receive any home visits, but received free developmental screenings and referrals when the child was 6, 12, 15, 21, and 24 months old.

Subgroups examined

• Mother has psychological vulnerability (yes or no)

Author Affiliation

David L. Olds, a study author, is a founder of this model.

Funding Sources

The Colorado Trust: grants 99030, 2001-049, and 99012; the Administration for Children and Families: grants 90PD0232 and 90XP0017; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: grant 2004-52854-CO-JS; the US Department ofJustice: grant 2005-MU-MU-001; the National Institute of Mental Health: grants 1R01MH069891, 1R01MH62485, and Senior Research Scientist Award 1-K05-MH01382.