An Evaluation of the Online Universal Programme COPING Parent: A Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Parenting Interventions
• Digital Health
• Child Development

Background:

• The COPING parent program is a 10-week online, universal parenting intervention for parents of children aged 3-8.
• It utilizes social learning theory principles to teach positive parenting strategies for common challenges.
• The program is freely available online, addressing the growing need for accessible, evidence-based parenting advice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather user feedback on the usefulness and acceptability of the COPING parent program.
• To identify areas for improvement and inform future development of the online parenting intervention.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving 20 participants who completed one weekly chapter of the online program.
• Participants provided feedback via forms, and program usage data was collected.
• The program was developed using LifeGuide software.

Main Results:

• Participant feedback indicated a need for modifications, including tablet compatibility and the ability to revisit previous chapters.
• Suggestions included incorporating more video examples of positive parenting techniques.
• Participants also recommended text message prompting to help reduce attrition rates.

Conclusions:

• The COPING parent program shows potential as a valuable online resource for positive parenting education.
• User feedback provides actionable insights for enhancing program usability, engagement, and effectiveness.
• Further development based on these findings is recommended before a large-scale evaluation.