Enrolment Rates into Parenting Programs using a Clinically Viable Recruitment Strategy

Abstract

Studies of parenting programs often have enrolment rates of 20% or more of the targeted parents. These rates are usually from funded research projects, and may not equate to enrolment rates in programs using clinically viable recruitment strategies without large specialist funding. Two studies were conducted to explore the enrolment rates of parents in group parenting programs. The first investigated the enrolment rate of parents of 5—12-yearold children in a community parenting program, using a clinically viable recruitment strategy. Flyers were twice sent home with the children advertising the program, which was offered both during the day and evening. Parents from nine Australian schools, with a total of 5,275 students from 3,740 families, were offered the program. Only 0.48% enrolled (N = 18 parents). In the second study, the variables of program cost (free vs $20), pre-enrolment requirements (completion of three questionnaires vs no questionnaires), and program duration/type (four-session general parenting program vs single-session specific problem program) were explored. Results showed that the different levels on each variable had no significant impact on parent enrolment. Discussion concludes that, without specialist funding, the snowball effect of parents enrolling because of word-of-mouth endorsement may be a key factor in ensuring that enough parents attend such programs. This has important planning implications for services wishing to introduce new programs to their community. The clinical implications are that more consideration needs to be given to methods that improve enrolment rates in such programs, and in particular programs training clinicians to conduct such community parenting programs should include a module on recruitment strategies.

Keywords:

• parenting programs
• enrolment rates
• uptake