Source
O'Sullivan, A., Fitzpatrick, N., & Doyle, O. (2017). Effects of early intervention on dietary intake and its mediating role on cognitive functioning: A randomised controlled trial. Public Health Nutrition, 20(1), 154-164.
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 |
Information required to satisfy the baseline equivalence requirement for findings with high attrition were based on correspondence with the author. Findings reported when children in the sample were 36 months old are ineligible for review because high PFL families were offered Triple P, a parenting course promoting healthy parenting practices and positive parent-child attachment, when children were between 24 and 36 months old, and the low PFL group was not offered these services. Several findings measured at 18 months not reported in the tables below received a low rating because they had high attrition and did not satisfy the baseline equivalence requirement.
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 207 participants, 105 in the high PFL group and 102 in the low PFL comparison group. Outcomes were measured when the children in the sample were 12, 18, 24, and 36 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 identified 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.
There were no subgroups reported in this 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 207 participants, 105 in the high PFL group and 102 in the low PFL comparison group. Outcomes were measured when the children in the sample were 12, 18, 24, and 36 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 identified 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.
There were no subgroups reported in this manuscript.
Findings that rate moderate or high in this manuscript
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Direction of Effect | Effect size (absolute value) | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.28 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.14 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.23 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.22 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.38 | Statistically significant, p= <0.05 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.09 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.64 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.04 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.87 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.50 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.24 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.29 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.50 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.16 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.41 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.25 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.18 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, unweighted |
12 months old |
High | 0.19 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.69 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, unweighted |
24 months old |
High | 0.81 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.31 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.13 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.22 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.28 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.34 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.10 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.10 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.64 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.06 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.82 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.56 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.24 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.30 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.36 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.09 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.12 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.57 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.25 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.20 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
12 months old |
High | 0.23 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.63 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, Inverse Probability Weighted results |
24 months old |
High | 0.83 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.35 | Statistically significant, p= 0.049 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.35 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.10 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.13 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.37 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.41 | Statistically significant, p= 0.046 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.31 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.10 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.05 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.84 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.02 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.87 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.25 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.28 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.50 | Statistically significant, p= 0.03 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.28 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.22 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.28 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.19 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.40 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.05 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.15 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.48 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.01 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.87 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.28 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.16 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, Multiple Imputation results |
12 months old |
High | 0.13 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.79 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, Multiple Imputation results |
18 months old |
High | 0.26 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.41 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, Multiple Imputation results |
24 months old |
High | 0.67 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.06 |
207 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.27 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.14 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for grains, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.25 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.28 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.35 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.05 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for dairy, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.08 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.55 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.00 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.97 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for protein, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.49 | Statistically significant, p= 0.02 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.21 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.21 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets recommended number of daily servings for fruits and vegetables, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.43 | Statistically significant, p= 0.04 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.15 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.34 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child eats fatty/sugary food less than once daily, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.27 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.22 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, adjusted for baseline controls |
12 months old |
High | 0.14 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.79 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
||
Child meets all daily diet recommendations, adjusted for baseline controls |
24 months old |
High | 0.78 | Statistically significant, p= 0.04 |
165 children | High PFL vs. Low PFL; Dublin, Ireland 2008-2010; full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Direction of Effect | Effect size (absolute value) | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Developmental Profile-3: Cognitive section |
24 months old |
High | 0.29 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.06 |
165 children | 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