Effects of Triple P parenting intervention on child health outcomes for childhood asthma and eczema: Randomised controlled trial

• Parenting interventions are effective for child behavioural problems, but have not been evaluated in child illness contexts.
• Brief, group intervention led to fewer child illness behaviour problems, better parental self-efficacy, HRQL and child health.
• The study demonstrates that improved parenting can lead to better child health outcomes.
• Parents’ needs for parenting and child behaviour support should be routinely assessed by clinicians.
• Parenting intervention should be considered as an element of childhood chronic health condition management.

Childhood chronic health conditions have considerable impact on children. We aimed to test the efficacy of a brief, group-based parenting intervention for improving illness-related child behaviour problems, parents’ self-efficacy, quality of life, parents’ competence with treatment, and symptom severity. A 2 (intervention vs. care as usual) by 3 (baseline, post-intervention, 6-month follow-up) design was used, with random group assignment. Participants were 107 parents of 2- to 10-year-old children with asthma and/or eczema. Parents completed self-report questionnaires, symptom diaries, and home observations were completed. The intervention comprised two 2-h group discussions based on Triple P. Parents in the intervention group reported (i) fewer eczema-related, but not asthma-related, child behaviour problems; (ii) improved self-efficacy for managing eczema, but not asthma; (iii) better quality of life for parent and family, but not child; (iv) no change in parental treatment competence; (v) reduced symptom severity, particularly for children prescribed corticosteroid-based treatments. Results demonstrate the potential for brief parenting interventions to improve childhood chronic illness management, child health outcomes, and family wellbeing. Effects were stronger for eczema-specific outcomes compared to asthma-specific outcomes. Effects on symptom severity are very promising, and further research examining effects on objective disease severity and treatment adherence is warranted.Australia New Zealand clinical trials registrationACTRN12611000558921.