Traumatic Brain Injury Positive Strategies for Families: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Behavioral Science
• Pediatric Health
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Childhood brain injuries necessitate specialized parenting support.
• Web-based interventions offer accessible training for caregivers.
• Evaluating the efficacy of such digital tools is crucial for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess program satisfaction and preliminary efficacy of the Traumatic Brain Injury Positive Strategies (TIPS) web-based training.
• To evaluate TIPS as a tool for enhancing parenting strategies following a child's brain injury.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing the TIPS intervention to usual-care control (TAU).
• Eighty-three eligible caregivers participated, recruited nationally.
• Assessments were conducted at pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Seventy-six participants completed posttest and 74 completed the 3-month follow-up.
• TIPS demonstrated a significant increase in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) knowledge compared to TAU (d=.61).
• No other primary or secondary outcomes, including caregiver self-efficacy and family impact, showed significant differences.

Conclusions:

• The TIPS program achieved high user satisfaction among caregivers.
• The intervention significantly improved TBI knowledge but did not significantly impact other measured outcomes.
• Further research may be needed to enhance the broader efficacy of web-based parenting strategies for TBI caregivers.