Source
PFL Evaluation Team at the UCD Geary Institute. (2012). Preparing For Life early childhood intervention: Assessing the impact of Preparing For Life at six months [Study 1: Randomized controlled trial]. Dublin, Ireland: UCD Geary Institute.
The Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (Ireland) supported the research.
Study Design
| Design | Attrition | Baseline equivalence | Confounding factors | Valid, reliable measures? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randomized controlled trial | Low | Not assessed for randomized controlled trials with low attrition |
No |
Yes |
The manuscript describes two studies: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a non-experimental design (NED) using a matched comparison group. This review addressed the findings of the RCT. The review of the NED is addressed under the PFL Evaluation Team at the UCD Geary Institute (2012; Study 2).
Information on how certain measures were constructed and their reliability, information to satisfy the baseline equivalence requirement for findings with high attrition, and information on the regression imputation method were based on correspondence with the author. HomVEE’s calculations for statistical significance are used because authors’ calculations are based on one-tailed statistical tests. Several findings not reported in the tables below received a low rating because they had high attrition and did not satisfy the baseline requirement or did not satisfy the reliability requirement. Findings about mothers’ civic engagement, partnership status, household size, the presence of grandparents, whether the mother was breastfed herself as a baby, and whether the mother knows the baby’s weight are ineligible for review because they do not fall in one of HomVEE’ s eligible outcome domains. Measures of the fathers’ income and education are ineligible for review because HomVEE does not review measures of family self-sufficiency for the father, unless the manuscript clearly indicates that the father resides in the household. Findings for difficult child temperament adapted from the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Social-Emotional score (total score), ASQ Gross motor score (total score), Parental Locus of Control Scale (PLOC) Control of child's behavior score, and number of child health problems are duplicates of those reported in Doyle et al. (2017) and are reported under that peer-reviewed manuscript.
Study participants were pregnant women recruited in a maternity hospital or in the community. A total of 233 pregnant women were randomly assigned to either the Preparing for Life—Home Visiting group that received home visiting services (“high PFL”; 115 participants) or the comparison condition that did not receive home visiting services (“low PFL”; 118 participants). The study included a total of 173 participants, 83 in the high PFL group and 90 in the low PFL comparison group. Outcomes were measured when the children in the sample were six months old. At intake, the average age of the mothers was 25. The percentage of mothers identifying as Irish was 96 percent, and 4 percent as Irish Traveller. About half of the women were first-time mothers.
The study took place in North Dublin, Ireland.
Preparing for Life—Home Visiting provided home visits that lasted 30 minutes to two hours during the mother’s pregnancy and until the child started school at age 5. The majority of participants received visits every two weeks, though some participants received services monthly. The home visitor was a trained Preparing for Life mentor. The mentor provided information by using tip sheets and worked with participants to resolve issues around the child’s development, including the child’s prebirth development, nutrition, rest and routine, and cognitive and social development. The mentor also addressed the mother and her supports. Participants had access to baby massage sessions until the child was 10 months old. Participants also received packages of materials, including home safety items (corner guards, angle latches, heat-sensitive spoons, and baby gym/play mats) and toys (puzzles, activity toys, and bricks), worth about 100 Euros per package.
Participants in the low PFL (comparison) group did not have access to the home visiting services or tip sheets. The comparison group did, however, receive some of the same resources made available to the high PFL (intervention) group, including the package of safety items and toys. These participants had access to an information officer who met with participants before the child’s birth and at various intervals after birth and provided information on Preparing for Life community events and other local services. Participants in the comparison group had access to public health workshops, such as a stress-control program and a healthy food program.
• Child gender (boy or girl) • Parity (primiparous) • Relationship status (single parent) • Cognitive resources of mother (high or low as measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence) • Emotional well-being level of mother (high or low as measured by the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index) • Maternal substance use/disorder (smoked or drank during pregnancy) • Maternal familial risk (high as measured by a survey of household domestic risks)
Findings that rate moderate or high in this manuscript
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Effect size | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Personal Social Score |
6 months old |
High | 0.06 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.70 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Social-Emotional Cut-off score |
6 months old |
High | -0.19 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.25 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Gross Motor Cut-off Score |
6 months old |
High | -0.19 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.25 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Personal Social Cut-off Score |
6 months old |
High | -0.15 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.34 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Effect size | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age left hospital (in days) |
6 months old |
High | 0.01 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.93 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Stayed in hospital during first 6 months (baby) |
6 months old |
High | 0.03 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.82 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby problem breathing |
6 months old |
High | 0.19 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.17 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby eats appropriate food |
6 months old |
High | 0.26 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.09 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Appropriate frequency of eating (baby eats 6 or more times per day) |
6 months old |
High | 0.30 | Statistically significant, p = 0.048 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby’s crying a problem |
6 months old |
High | 0.03 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.84 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Attempted breastfeeding |
6 months old |
High | 0.04 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.76 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby sleeps more than 8 hours a night |
6 months old |
High | -0.06 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.76 |
171 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby sleeps undisturbed through the night |
6 months old |
High | -0.05 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.76 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby sleeps undisturbed by 3 months |
6 months old |
High | -0.19 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Baby ever vaccinated |
6 months old |
High | -0.16 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.51 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Effect size | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baby has appropriate sleep preparation |
6 months old |
High | 0.19 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.24 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Appropriateness of baby sleeping location |
6 months old |
High | -0.39 | Statistically significant, p = 0.03 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Locus of Control Scale (PLOC), Parental Belief in Fate/Chance |
6 months old |
High | -0.08 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.61 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Condon Maternal Attachment Scale (CMAS), Quality of Attachment |
6 months old |
High | 0.03 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.85 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Condon Maternal Attachment Scale (CMAS), Absence of Hostility |
6 months old |
High | -0.04 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.80 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Baby Comparison |
6 months old |
High | 0.26 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.10 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Parental Hostile-reactive Behavior |
6 months old |
High | -0.20 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Parental Self-efficacy |
6 months old |
High | 0.10 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.47 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Parental Impact |
6 months old |
High | 0.08 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.58 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Parental Over-protection |
6 months old |
High | 0.02 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.90 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Cognition and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale (PACOTIS), Parental Warmth |
6 months old |
High | -0.06 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.75 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother interaction with baby (items adapted from My Baby and Me program and Parenting for the First Time program) |
6 months old |
High | 0.22 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.14 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parental Locus of Control Scale (PLOC), overall score |
6 months old |
High | -0.16 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.29 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Condon Maternal Attachment Scale (CMAS), total score |
6 months old |
High | -0.01 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.94 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother uses electrical socket covers |
6 months old |
High | 0.20 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 |
168 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother uses baby safety gate |
6 months old |
High | 0.15 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.32 |
151 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Satisfied with father's involvement |
6 months old |
High | -0.25 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.11 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Effect size | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Parent-child Dysfunctional Interactions |
6 months old |
High | -0.28 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.07 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Difficult Child |
6 months old |
High | -0.14 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.36 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Parental Distress |
6 months old |
High | 0.04 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.79 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parenting Stress Index (PSI), total score |
6 months old |
High | -0.12 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.42 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Stress Cut-off Score |
6 months old |
High | -0.24 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.12 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother number of general practitioner (GP) visits in past 6 months |
6 months old |
High | 0.16 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.30 |
171 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score, past 7 days |
6 months old |
High | -0.09 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.55 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score, past 6 months |
6 months old |
High | -0.02 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.91 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
World Health Organisation - Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) Percentage Score |
6 months old |
High | -0.01 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.95 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression cut-off |
6 months old |
High | 0.16 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.33 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Below World Health Organisation - Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) Score of 13 |
6 months old |
High | -0.06 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.65 |
173 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Knows families with children same age as baby |
6 months old |
High | 0.21 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.18 |
170 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother took or is currently on maternity leave |
6 months old |
High | 0.10 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.48 |
171 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Effect size | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mother in paid employment |
6 months old |
High | 0.04 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.79 |
171 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Mother long-term unemployed |
6 months old |
High | 0.06 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.73 |
169 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Equivalized weekly household income |
6 months old |
High | 0.01 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.94 |
150 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Saves regularly |
6 months old |
High | -0.15 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.36 |
171 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
Receives social welfare payments |
6 months old |
High | 0.18 | Not statistically significant, p = 0.28 |
169 mother/child dyads | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:
Race/Ethnicity
Maternal Education
Other Characteristics
This study included participants from the following locations:
- State not reported or international