Using iPhones to Enhance and Reduce Face-to-face Home Safety Sessions within SafeCare: An Evidence-based Child Maltreatment Prevention Program

• NCJ Number: 235351
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 26 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 377-385
• Author(s): Julie J. Jabaley; John R. Lutzker; Daniel J. Whitaker; Shannon Self-Brown
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 9 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the use of home safety devices as an assessment tool in the prevention of child maltreatment.

Abstract

Innovative handheld technologies are changing the possibilities for public health interventions. The present research describes a preliminary examination of the iPhone when used as an assessment tool and an enhancement to an evidence-based, in-home child safety intervention. Three families with young children received an augmented version of the Safety module of SafeCare, a home-visiting child maltreatment prevention program. Specifically, parents were trained to use an iPhone to video rooms in their homes, as well as communicate feedback, logistics, and safety content between the home visitor and parent. The effectiveness of iPhone and video was examined using a multiple baseline design across in-home settings replicated across families. Home hazards were reduced dramatically across rooms and across participants. Face-to-face time of the home visitor was progressively reduced and replaced by video data collection. These data suggest smartphones are promising for data collection and for augmenting face-to-face interactions. Implications for reducing costs as smartphones become increasingly ubiquitous and for engaging and retaining participants are discussed. (Published Abstract)