Online and phone parenting support for toddlers born very premature
Official title: Parent training for parents of toddlers born very premature: A factorial design to test web delivery and telephone coaching
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11143743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares online lessons, phone coaching, and a combination of both to help parents of toddlers born very prematurely reduce early behavior problems like aggression and defiance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $540,390 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD104072-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are parents or primary caregivers of toddlers (around 2 years old) who were born very prematurely (gestational age < 32 weeks) and who are noticing behavioral difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Families of children born at term, parents of older children, or those without behavior concerns or reliable internet/phone access may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You or your child’s caregiver would receive behavioral parent training delivered through web-based lessons, regular telephone coaching, or both, tailored for families of very preterm infants. The team uses a factorial design to compare which combination of web delivery and phone coaching leads to better parent engagement and child behavior over time. Parents will complete online modules, get scheduled coaching calls, and provide information about their child's behavior and family functioning. The program is designed to be accessible and to address the medical and developmental needs unique to toddlers born before 32 weeks gestation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give parents accessible, evidence-based tools to reduce early behavior problems and improve family well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Behavioral parent training is well supported for reducing child behavior problems and digital or phone-delivered versions have shown promise, but these approaches have not been well tested specifically for very preterm toddlers.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Breitenstein, Susan M — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Breitenstein, Susan M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.