Although families found FTC to be acceptable, there were no intervention effects. Challenges of the trial and implications for future research are discussed.

Background: Preterm infants remain increasingly neurodevelopmentally disadvantaged. Parental touch, especially during skin-to-skin contact (SSC), has potential to reduce adverse consequences. Purpose: To examine relationships between parental engagement and salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels for parents participating in SSC intervention. Methods: A randomized crossover design study was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit; 28 stable preterm infants, mothers, and fathers participated. Parental engagement was measured using the Parental Risk Evaluation Engagement Model Instrument (PREEMI) prior to hospital discharge. Saliva samples for oxytocin and cortisol levels were collected 15-minute pre-SSC, 60-minute during-SSC, and 45-minute post-SSC. Results: Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation to measure relationships between parental engagement composite scores and salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels. A significant negative correlation between paternal engagement and paternal oxytocin levels (r = −0.43; P = .03) and a significant negative correlation between infant oxytocin levels and maternal engagement (r = −0.54; P = .004) were present. Adjusted linear regression models demonstrated that as infant oxytocin levels increased during SSC, maternal engagement scores significantly decreased at discharge (β = −.04; P = .01). Linear regression, adjusting for infant oxytocin and cortisol levels, showed that as paternal oxytocin levels increased, there was a significant decrease in paternal engagement (β = −.16; P = .03) and as paternal cortisol levels increased, there was a significant decrease in paternal engagement (β = −68.97; P =.05). Implications for Practice: Significant relationships exist between parental engagement and salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels. Defining parent engagement facilitates identification of parent risks and needs for intervention to optimize preterm outcomes. Implications for Research: The PREEMI can serve as a standardized instrument to examine parent engagement.

This study demonstrates how a multi-theoretical, multilevel process evaluation was used to assess implementation of Families Improving Together (FIT) for weight loss intervention. FIT is a randomized controlled trial evaluating a culturally tailored, motivational plus family-based program on weight loss in African American adolescents and their parents. Social Cognitive, Self Determination, Family Systems theories and cultural tailoring principles guided the conceptualization of essential elements across individual/family, facilitator, and group levels. Data collection included an observational rating tool, attendance records, and a validated psychosocial measure. Results. Attendance records (0=absent, 1=present, criteria=≥70%) indicated that 71.5% of families attended each session. The survey (1=false, 6=true, criteria=≥4.5) indicated that participants perceived a positive group climate (M=5.16, SD=.69). A trained evaluator reported that facilitator dose delivered (0=no, 1=yes, criteria=≥75%) was high (99.6%), and fidelity (1=none to 4=all, criteria=≥3) was adequate at facilitator (M=3.63, SD=.41) and group levels (M=3.35, SD=.49). Five cultural topics were raised by participants related to eating (n=3) and physical activity (n=2) behaviors and were integrated as part of the final curriculum. Discussion. Results identify areas for program improvement related to delivery of multi-theoretical and cultural tailoring elements. Findings may inform future strategies for implementing effective weight loss programs for ethnic minority families.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The current analysis sought to explore parent problem-solving abilities/skills as a moderator between SCD complications and HRQOL to evaluate applicability to pediatric SCD. At baseline, 83 children ages 6–12 years and their primary caregiver completed measures of the child HRQOL. Primary caregivers also completed a measure of social problem-solving. A SCD complications score was computed from medical record review. Parent problem-solving abilities significantly moderated the association of SCD complications with child self-report psychosocial HRQOL (p = .006). SCD complications had a direct effect on parent proxy physical and psychosocial child HRQOL. Enhancing parent problem-solving abilities may be one approach to improve HRQOL for children with high SCD complications; however, modification of parent perceptions of HRQOL may require direct intervention to improve knowledge and skills involved in disease management.

BACKGROUND Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for neurocognitive impairment and poor academic achievement, although there is limited research on factors predicting academic achievement in this population. This study explores the relative contribution to academic achievement of a comprehensive set of factors, such as environmental (socioeconomic status), disease-related (stroke, transfusion therapy, adherence), and psychosocial variables (child behavior, child quality of life (QoL)), controlling for intellectual functioning (IQ). METHODS Eighty-two children with SCD completed measures assessing IQ and academic achievement, while parents completed questionnaires assessing adherence, child behavior, and child quality of life. Medical chart reviews were conducted to determine disease-related factors. RESULTS Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that 55% of the variance in academic skills was accounted for by IQ, parent education, chronic transfusion status, and QoL [R2 = .55, F(5, 77) = 18.34, p < .01]. Follow-up analyses for broad reading [R2 = .52, F(5, 77) = 16.37, p < .01], and math calculation [R2 = .44, F(5, 77) = 12.14, p < .01] were also significant. CONCLUSION The findings suggest a significant contribution of factors beyond IQ to academic achievement. Findings allow for identification of children with SCD at risk for academic difficulties for whom psychoeducational interventions may enhance academic achievement.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for working memory deficits due to multiple disease processes. We assessed working memory abilities and related functions in 32 school-age children with SCD and 85 matched comparison children using Baddeley’s working memory model as a framework. Children with SCD performed worse than controls for working memory, central executive function, and processing/rehearsal speed. Central executive function was found to mediate the relationship between SCD status and working memory, but processing speed did not. Cognitive remediation strategies that focus on central executive processes may be important for remediating working memory deficits in SCD.

Developmental screening predicts academic outcomes in sickle cell disease. Children with concerning language/cognitive screenings have early-onset school difficulties. Developmental screenings may help predict cerebrovascular complications.

Rats were tested on a hippocampus dependent win-shift working memory task in familiar or novel environments after receiving bilateral ventral tegmental area infusions of baclofen. Baclofen infusion disrupted working memory performance in both familiar and novel environments. In addition, baclofen infusion selectively disrupted short-term working memory in the novel environment. This experiment confirms selective ventral tegmental area support of accurate performance during a context dependent spatial navigation task.