Manuscript Detail

Duggan, A., Fuddy, L., Burrell, L., Higman, S. M., McFarlane, E., Windham, A., et al. (2004). Randomized trial of a statewide home visiting program to prevent child abuse: Impact in reducing parental risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(6), 623–643.

Manuscript screening details
Screening decision Screening conclusion HomVEE procedures and standards version
Passes screens Eligible for review Version 1
Study design details
Rating Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Compromised randomization Confounding factors Valid, reliable measure(s)
High Randomized controlled trial Low Established on race but not SES (e.g., maternal employment). Maternal employment is included as a control. Baseline equivalence on outcomes not feasible. None None Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed before 2021
Study characteristics
Study participants Families were recruited to the study between November 1994 and December 1995. Hawaii Healthy Start Program staff screened the medical records of mothers from one of four Oahu communities delivering children at Kapiolani Maternity Hospital for risk factors for child abuse and neglect. Mothers found to be at risk, or those whose records did not contain sufficient information to screen out, were screened further using the Kempe Family Stress Checklist; eligible families were those in which either parent scored 25 or greater (Duggan, 2004a). Of the 897 families who were eligible to participate in the study, 730 (81%) agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to the program group (n = 395), the main comparison group (n = 290), or a testing comparison group (n = 45). 684 families completed a baseline interview (373 families in the program group, 270 families in the main comparison group, and 41 in the testing group comparison). On average, at baseline, mothers were 23.7 years of age (program group) and 23.3 years of age (comparison group). 63% (program group) and 67% (comparison group) of participating families lived below the poverty line. The racial composition of the program group was 34% native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 28% Asian or Filipino, 10% Caucasian, and 27% of unknown primary ethnicity. The main comparison group consisted of 33% native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 28% Asian or Filipino, 14% Caucasian, and 26% of unknown primary ethnicity. This study reports results from the first two follow-ups of the Hawaii Healthy Start randomized controlled trial. Follow-up interviews were completed for 88% of families in years 1 and 2, and 83% of participating families were included in both follow-ups.
Setting Six Healthy Start Program sites operated by three community-based organizations in Oahu, Hawaii.
Intervention services Home visiting services were designed to provide three to five years of home visiting, with weekly visits for most or all of the child’s first year of life, and visits of gradually decreasing frequency thereafter depending on family need. Home visitors endeavored to establish trusting relationships with families, help them resolve immediate crises, and help them build on existing strengths to improve their ability to function independently. Visitors helped families develop problem-solving skills, connected them to needed services, and aimed to develop an individual service plan with each family every six months and help the family reach six-month goals. The actual frequency of visits, however, was lower than that specified by the model, with families receiving an average of 13 visits in the child’s first year of life, and 51% of families not actively participating in the program by the time the child was 12 months old. Families still active at the end of year 1 received an average of 22 visits in the first year.
Comparison conditions The main comparison group was tested annually to measure outcomes. A second “testing” comparison group was evaluated only at year 3 to ascertain the effect of repeated testing on observed outcomes (Duggan, McFarlane, Fuddy, Burrell, Higman, Windham, et al., 2004).
Subgroups examined This field lists subgroups examined in the manuscript (even if they were not replicated in other samples and not reported on the summary page for this model’s report).

• Maternal depression (present based on screening) • Intimate partner violence (three or more incidents or injury resulting from partner violence in prior year)

Funding sources Maternal and Child Health Bureau (R40 MC 00029 (formerly MCJ 240637) and R40 MC 00123 (formerly MCJ 240838)); The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (18303); The Annie E. Casey Foundation (94-4041); The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (93-6051, 94-7957, 97-8058, and 98-3448); the Hawaii State Department of Health (99-29-J); and the National Institute of Mental Health, Epidemiological Center for Early Risk Behaviors, P30MH38725.
Author affiliation None of the study authors are developers of this model.
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed status is not listed for manuscripts reviewed before 2021.

Findings that rate moderate or high

Maternal health
Rating Outcome measure Effect Sample Timing of follow-up Sample size Intervention group Comparison group Group difference Effect size Statistical significance Notes
High Illicit drug use
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 11.00 % = 9.00 = 2.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.14 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Illicit drug use
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 10.00 % = 11.00 = -1.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.06 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Illicit drug use
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 9.00 % = 9.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Illicit drug use
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers Not available Not available OR = 1.06 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
High Mothers with depressive symptoms (CES-D)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers Not available Not available OR = 0.97 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by user on
Adjusted odds ratios are based on the average effect across all follow-up years.
High Mothers with depressive symptoms (CES-D)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 16.00 % = 16.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Mothers with depressive symptoms (CES-D)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 16.00 % = 18.00 = -2.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.09 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Mothers with depressive symptoms (CES-D)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 23.00 % = 23.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Poor general mental health (MHI < 67)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 35.00 % = 38.00 = -3.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.20 Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Poor general mental health (MHI < 67)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 36.00 % = 46.00 = -10.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.25 Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Poor general mental health (MHI < 67)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 29.00 % = 32.00 = -3.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.09 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Problem alcohol use (CAGE)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 7.00 % = 10.00 = -3.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.24 Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Problem alcohol use (CAGE)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 8.00 % = 9.00 = -1.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.08 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Problem alcohol use (CAGE)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 8.00 % = 10.00 = -2.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.15 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Problem alcohol use (CAGE)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers Not available Not available OR = 0.76 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
High Severe parenting stress (PSI)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 11.00 % = 10.00 = 1.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.06 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Severe parenting stress (PSI)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers Not available Not available OR = 1.04 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
High Severe parenting stress (PSI)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 8.00 % = 8.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Severe parenting stress (PSI)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 8.00 % = 9.00 = -1.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.08 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime
Rating Outcome measure Effect Sample Timing of follow-up Sample size Intervention group Comparison group Group difference Effect size Statistical significance Notes
High Partner incident resulting in injury (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers % = 24.00 % = 26.00 OR = 0.81 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
High Partner incident resulting in injury (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 14.00 % = 20.00 = -6.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.26 Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner incident resulting in injury (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 24.00 % = 26.00 = -2.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.06 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner incident resulting in injury (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 17.00 % = 18.00 = -1.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.04 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner physical abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers % = 37.00 % = 42.00 OR = 0.83 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
High Partner physical abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 26.00 % = 32.00 = -6.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.18 Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner physical abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 37.00 % = 42.00 = -5.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.13 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner physical abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 29.00 % = 30.00 = -1.00 HomVEE calculated = -0.03 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner psychological abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 1 564 mothers % = 49.00 % = 49.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner psychological abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 3 548 mothers % = 42.00 % = 38.00 = -4.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.10 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.

High Partner psychological abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Years 1-3 564 mothers % = 49.00 % = 49.00 OR = 1.05 Not available Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by user on
Adjusted odds ratios are based on the average effect across all follow-up years.
High Partner psychological abuse (CTS)
FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect
Full sample, Hawaii trial Year 2 556 mothers % = 42.00 % = 42.00 = 0.00 HomVEE calculated = 0.00 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Submitted by nwu on

Statistical significance is based on HomVEE calculations.