Manuscript Details

Olds, D. L., Robinson, J., O’Brien, R., Luckey, D. W., Pettitt, L. M., Henderson, C. R., et al. (2002). Home visiting by paraprofessionals and by nurses: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics, 110(3), 486.

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 for race/ethnicity and SES

None

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

Information on sample sizes for this study was received through communication with the authors. HomVEE previously rated 24-month outcomes for nurse home visitors Moderate due to high attrition. Upon further examination, HomVEE noted that the outcomes had low attrition, and therefore they rate High.

This study received a mixed rating. All of the outcomes comparing paraprofessional-visited mothers versus the control condition for the main sample rate high. Outcomes for the low resources subgroup, for both the nurse-visited and paraprofessional-visited versus control comparisons, rate high. In addition, outcomes for the main sample for the nurse-visited versus control comparison at the 21-month follow-up rate high. Due to high attrition, the nurse-visited versus control comparison for the other follow-ups rate moderate.

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
CBCL 24 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 392 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
CBCL (Behavior problems score) 24 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 372 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
BSID (mental development delay) 24 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 392 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
BSID (Mental Developmental Index) 24 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 392 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
BSID MDI 24 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 372 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
BSID, MDI: Mental development delay 24 months Moderate
0.12 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 372 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language delay) 21 months High
0.45 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 406 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language delay) 21 months High
0.06 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 420 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language development) 21 months High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 406 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language development) 21 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 420 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Infant low vitality: anger stimuli (video coding) 6 months Moderate
0.31 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 363 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Infant low vitality: joy stimuli (video coding) 6 months Moderate
0.23 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 363 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Infant vulnerability: fear stimuli (video coding) 6 months Moderate
0.34 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 363 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Irritable temperament 6 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 363 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Irritable temperament (video coding) 6 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 377 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Low vitality: anger stimuli (video coding) 6 months High
0.06 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 377 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Low vitality: joy stimuli (video coding) 6 months High
0.08 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 377 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Vulnerable: fear stimuli (video coding) 6 months High
0.25 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 377 children Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language delay) 21 months High
0.45 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 406 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
PLS-3 (language development) 21 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 406 children Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Subgroups
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
CBCL 24-month follow-up High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 136 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
CBCL 24-month follow-up High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 163 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
BSID (mental development delay) 24-month follow-up High
0.12 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 136 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
BSID (Mental development delay) 24-month follow-up High
0.00 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 163 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
BSID (mental development index) 24-month follow-up High
Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 136 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
BSID (Mental development index) 24-month follow-up High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 163 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
PLS-3 (language delay) 21-month follow-up High
0.65 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 142 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
PLS-3 (language delay) 21-month follow-up High
0.23 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 163 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
PLS-3 (language development) 21-month follow-up High
Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 142 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
PLS-3 (language development) 21-month follow-up High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 163 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant low vitality: anger stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.31 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 138 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant low vitality: anger stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.31 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 158 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant low vitality: joy stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.45 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 138 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant low vitality: joy stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.27 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 158 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant vulnerability: fear stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.34 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 138 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Infant vulnerability: fear stimuli (video coding) 6-month follow-up High
0.16 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 158 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Irritable temperament 6-month follow-up High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 138 children Nurse home visitors and comparison (Denver); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Irritable temperament 6-month follow-up High
HomVEE = > 0.05 158 children Paraprofessional home visitors and comparison (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
Family Economic Self-Sufficiency
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Educational achievement (years) 21 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 427 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Educational achievement (years) 21 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 440 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months employed (1–12 months postpartum) 12 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 406 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months employed (1–12 months postpartum) 12 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 425 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months employed (13–24 months postpartum) 24 months Moderate
Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 419 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months employed (13–24 months postpartum) 24 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 439 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months on AFDC (1–12 months postpartum) 12 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 406 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months on AFDC (1–12 months postpartum) 12 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 425 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months on AFDC (13–24 months postpartum) 24 months Moderate
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 419 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Months on AFDC (13–24 months postpartum) 24 months High
Not statistically significant,p ≥ 0.05 439 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Maternal Health
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Subsequent birth (24 months postpartum) 24 months High
0.33 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 436 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Subsequent birth (24 months postpartum) 24 months High
0.27 Not statistically significant, p > 0.05 417 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Subsequent pregnancy (24 months postpartum) 24 months High
0.32 Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 436 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Subsequent pregnancy (24 months postpartum) 24 months High
0.21 Not statistically significant, p > 0.05 417 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Use of emergency services 36 weeks (prenatal) Moderate
0.27 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 353 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Use of emergency services 36 weeks (prenatal) High
0.00 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 344 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Use of preventative services 36 weeks (prenatal) Moderate
0.09 Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 353 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Use of preventative services 36 weeks (prenatal) High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 344 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Positive Parenting Practices
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
HOME environment score Unknown Moderate
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 406 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
HOME environment score 21 months High
Not statistically significant,p > 0.05 420 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Mother-infant responsive interaction Unknown Moderate
Statistically significant,p ≤ 0.05 372 mothers Nurse home visitor and comparison (Denver)
Mother-infant responsive interaction 24 months High
Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 392 mothers Paraprofessional home visitor and comparison (Denver)
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
16%
Hispanic or Latino
45%
White
36%
Unknown
3%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Colorado
Study Participants

Women were recruited through 21 antepartum clinics that served low-income pregnant women. Recruitment focused on women who had no previous live births and either qualified for Medicaid or had no private health insurance. From March 1994 through June 1995, 1,178 women were invited to participate and 735 consented and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a control group, nurse home visiting, and paraprofessional home visiting. Randomization was conducted within strata based on maternal race (Hispanic, white, black, American Indian, or Asian), maternal gestational age (less than 32 weeks, 32 weeks or more), and geographic region. This study measures the sample when the children were 6 months to 2 years old. The study sample at the 24-month parent interview included 630 women, 194 in the nurse home visiting program group, 213 in the paraprofessional home visiting program group, and 223 in the comparison group.

Setting

Denver, Colorado metropolitan area

Comparison Conditions

Women in the comparison group received developmental screening and referral services for their children at 6, 12, 15, 21, and 24 months.

Subgroups examined

• Mother has psychological vulnerability (yes or no) • Smoking status (current smoker)

Author Affiliation

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

Funding Sources

The Colorado Trust (93059); a contract with Abt Associates (105–94-1925) under a grant from the Administration for Children and Families (HHS); and a Senior Research Scientist Award to David Olds from the National Institute of Mental Health (K05-MH01382).