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.