Parents View a Brief Violence Prevention Program in Clinic

Abstract

Participants were parents of 1- to 7-year-old children presenting to a pediatric clinic. The intervention was Play Nicely, 2nd edition, a multimedia educational program that teaches childhood aggression management skills. On average, parents viewed 10 to 15 min in clinic. The average age of the 89 participants was 30 years; 49% were African American, 29% were married, and 12% had a college education. Preintervention, 90% of parents stated that they felt very comfortable managing aggression. Postintervention, 90% of parents planned to change how they discipline their own child. More than 90% had at least one positive comment about the program; there were no negative comments. A brief intervention that addresses childhood aggression is embraced by a relatively diverse group of parents who viewed it during their children's primary care visit. Parents' prior comfort level with managing aggression should not be used to screen who might benefit. The program has implications for violence prevention.