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Can an Instrument Validated to Assess Parent-Child Interactions in the Laboratory Setting Be Applied to Home-Based
Helen H Lee1,2, Nadia Ochoa2, Nia Moragne-O'Neal2
1Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
Insights
The Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) showed limited feasibility for assessing home-based child and parent behaviors in young children. Further validation is needed for naturalistic settings to improve behavioral data accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- The Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) was originally developed for laboratory-based assessment of child and parent toothbrushing behaviors.
- There was a need to evaluate the applicability of TBOS in natural home environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of applying the Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) to parent-child dyads in urban home settings.
- To evaluate the instrument's utility for observing toothbrushing behaviors in children under three years of age.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involved 36 families with children averaging 20.7 months old in Chicago.
- Parent-child toothbrushing interactions were video-recorded in their homes.
- Two independent coders reviewed footage using the TBOS instrument.
Main Results:
- The Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) comprises 12 parent and 18 child items.
- Coders were able to apply only 5 parent items and 10 child items from the TBOS.
- Feasibility was constrained by home-based observation challenges and the young age of the children.
Conclusions:
- Applying the Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) in home settings with young children presented feasibility limitations.
- Instrument validation in naturalistic environments is crucial for enhancing the quality and accuracy of human behavioral data.
- Future research should focus on adapting and validating observational tools for real-world settings.
Abstract:
Background: The Toothbrushing Observations Scale (TBOS) was developed in a laboratory setting to measure child and parent behaviors during toothbrushing. However, we required an instrument to assess home based behaviors. We assessed the feasibility of applying TBOS to observations of parents and their child (<3 years of age) in urban homes. Methods: Sample consisted of 36 families recruited from university and community pediatric dental/medical clinics and a Women, Infants, and Children center in Chicago as part of a pilot study for a larger clinical trial. The average age of children in our sample was 20.7 months. Most of the parent participants were mothers (90%), and 75% of the parents identified as Hispanic. Parent-child dyads were video-recorded during home-based toothbrushing activities and footage was reviewed by two independent TBOS coders. Results: The TBOS instrument consists of 12 parent and 18 child items. We were able to code five parent and ten child items. Conclusion: The feasibility of applying the TBOS measure to our study population was somewhat limited by factors related to home-based observations and the young age of children in our study. Instruments need to be validated across natural settings, such as the home, to increase the quality and accuracy of human behavioral data.
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