The Early STEPS Pilot Study: The Impact of a Brief Consultation Session on Self-reported Parenting Satisfaction

INTRODUCTION Evidence-based parenting interventions can augment parental knowledge and skills to reduce parental stress and increase self-efficacy, leading to improved developmental outcomes for children. However, parenting interventions are often multi-session and require considerable time commitments from parents and primary care physicians. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effect of a brief consultation session on self-reported parental satisfaction and to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating occupational therapists (OTs) into a low-income urban pediatric primary care setting to conduct developmental screenings. METHODS OTs conducted one 45-min consultation on positive parenting practices and promoting child development with parents in a pediatric primary care practice. A one group pretest-posttest design with 6-month follow-up was utilized. Participants included 55 families with 60 children, ages 2 to 65 months 30 days. The primary outcome measure was the change in Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) scores from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Additional outcomes were screening results, referral numbers, and follow through in obtaining early intervention services. RESULTS The paired difference between PSOC scores at baseline and 6 months indicated a significant increase in parenting satisfaction (p