Published Research releated to Play Nicely NOTE: In addition to the published studies cited below, please visit the links shown at left under Research about Play Nicely to view the results of several unpublished studies which captured the reactions of medical and educational professionals, as well as parents, to Play Nicely. Scholer SJ, Mukherjee AB, Gibbs KI, Memon S, Jongeward KL. Parents view a brief violence prevention program in clinic. Clin Pediatr. 2007.Participants: Participants were 89 parents from diverse backgrounds with 1-7 year old children presenting to a pediatric clinic. Summary of findings: Previewing, 90% of parents were already very comfortable responding to childhood aggression. Post-viewing, 90% of parents stated that they were going to change how they respond to aggression with their own children. Implications: Brief, clinic-based interventions may be able to help parents address one of the strongest risk factors for violence, early childhood aggression. Health care professionals who provide anticipatory guidance to parents should not rely on parents' comfort level with managing childhood aggression to determine who might benefit from the program. Scholer SJ, Cherry R, Garrard HG, Gupta AO, Mace R, Greeley N. A multimedia program helps parents manage childhood aggression. Clin Pediatr. 2006;45:835-840.Participants: Participants were parents of 6-18 month old children presenting for a routine well child visit. Summary of Findings: One year after receiving the program from their pediatrician, 65% of parents who independently viewed the program at home reported that it helped them manage aggression in their own child. Many parents had recommended the program to others. One parent, who was an early education major, stated that the program did not help her, but she recommended the program to a colleague at work who was having difficulties with her son. Implications: To our knowledge, this is the first brief intervention that has been found to help parents manage early childhood aggression. Parents were enrolled before aggression usually becomes a concern, suggesting that an easily implemented intervention may contribute to population-based violence prevention efforts. Scholer SJ, Nix RL, Patterson B. Gaps in pediatricians' advice to parents regarding early childhood aggression. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2006 Jan-Feb;45(1):23-28.Summary of Findings: This study finds that there are "gaps in pediatricians' advice to parents regarding early childhood aggression." Pediatricians often forget to mention the importance of redirecting and promoting empathy. Implications: By including discussions about redirecting, promoting empathy, and many other strategies, Play Nicely can supplement the advice offered to parents of young children. Scholer SJ, Reich SM, Boshers RB, Bickman L. A multimedia violence prevention program increases pediatric residents' and childcare providers' knowledge about responding to childhood aggression. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2005 Jun;44(5):413-7. Summary of Findings: The researchers used a split-half, alternate-form design to assess pre-post knowledge of how to manage aggression in young children. Click here to review the multiple choice questions. The Play Nicely CD ROM demonstration was found to increase knowledge (p<0.001) about managing aggression in young children. Scholer SJ, Goad S. Feedback on a multimedia violence prevention program. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2003 Nov-Dec;42(9):789-96.Summary of Findings: Feedback was obtained from 314 participants who watched a demonstration of the Play Nicely CD ROM. Participants included groups of preschool teachers, childcare workers, parents, pediatric health professionals, and pediatric residents. 1. Participants felt more comfortable managing childhood aggression after the program (p<0.001). Pediatric residents felt more comfortable counseling parents about aggression (p<0.001). 2. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = not effective and 10=very effective), the program was rated as being highly effective in teaching – appropriate options for managing childhood aggression - average score = 8.0 – importance of decreasing exposure to violence - average score = 7.7 – importance of consistency - average score = 8.2 – how to teach children not to be a victim - average score = 7.3 3. Approximately 90% of participants would either strongly or very strongly recommend the program to others.