Back to Search
Start Over
Outcomes of a Universal Shared Reading Intervention by 2 Years of Age: The Let's Read Trial.
- Source :
-
Pediatrics . Mar2011, Vol. 127 Issue 3, p445-453. 9p. 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Early shared reading and literacy promotion benefits have stimulated international interest in the development of early- years literacy-promotion programs despite limited evidence of effectiveness at a broader population level. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a population-based primary care literacy promotion intervention during the first 2 years of life improves early markers of subsequent literacy by 2 years of age. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cluster randomized controlled trial took place in 5 relatively disadvantaged areas in Melbourne, Australia. Infants attending their maternal and child health centers were recruited at age 1-2 months. The intervention (4-8, 12, and 18 months) comprised maternal and child health nurses modelling shared reading activities to parents, supported by parent information and free books. Outcomes (at 2 years) included expressive vocabulary (MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventory), communication (Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales), and home literacy environment (StimQ-Toddler). We analyzed the outcomes using random-effects (linear regression) models allowing for clustering. RESULTS: A total of 552 families (87.6%; 324 intervention and 228 control families) of 630 recruited families (66.5% response) were retained to outcome. A total of 97.3% of intervention parents received some (93.7% to all) of the intervention. At 2 years, the trial arms had similar vocabulary (adjusted mean difference: -2.0 [95% confidence interval: -6.2 to 2.2]; P = .36), communication (adjusted mean difference: 0.2 [95% confidence interval: -2.3 to 2.7]; P = .87), and home literacy (adjusted mean difference: -0.4 [95% confidence interval: -1.0to 0.2]; P= .21). CONCLUSIONS: This universal literacy-promotion program was not beneficial in relatively disadvantaged communities by the age of 2 years and may be ineffective. Alternative interpretations may relate to program intensity, reach and/or sleeper effects. Definitive outcomes at 4 years are awaited. Pediatrics 2011;127:445-453 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *POVERTY areas
*ANALYSIS of variance
*CHILD health services
*COMMUNICATION
*COMPUTER software
*CONFIDENCE intervals
*LITERACY
*EVALUATION of medical care
*PARENTS
*PRIMARY health care
*READING
*REGRESSION analysis
*RESEARCH funding
*STATISTICAL sampling
*VOCABULARY
*DATA analysis
*RANDOMIZED controlled trials
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00314005
- Volume :
- 127
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Pediatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 59073667
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3043