Using media to support FASD awareness and treatment

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Richard C. Goldsworthy, BA, MSEd, Academic Edge, Inc., PO Box 5307, Bloomington, IN 47407-5307, 8123339543, rick@academicedge.com

Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading causing of birth defects in the United States. Early diagnosis and appropriate management has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of secondary disabilities and increase positive outcomes for those affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The purpose of this project has been to develop and evaluate media intended to increase awareness of FASD among lay care providers, particularly foster and adoptive parents. The project seeks to increase early and accurate diagnosis of children prenatally exposed to alcohol and to facilitate appropriate treatment and ongoing management of those affected by the FASD.

The research group examined a prototype multimedia module, covering FAS awareness and diagnosis, in a randomized, controlled field trial (n=43 foster care providers). The interactive module increased subject knowledge significantly more than the comparison condition (directed web searches). The module elicited performed better than the comparison condition on measures of usefulness, effect on confidence, and usability, and it surpassed experimentally postulated values for all usability measures. Demographic, media access, and media preference data were collected. Key content components for future research and development were identified.

Well-designed interactive multimedia is an effective method of supporting care provider FASD knowledge and performance, and is generally accepted by the target audience. However, in order to reach the widest possible audience multiple media should be considered, including VHS and paper-based tools,. The session will describe the project, demonstrate the program, discuss the evaluation results, and draw implications for practice.

Learning Objectives:

consider the effectiveness of an interactive multimedia module on FAS diagnosis and treatment (
Understand factors and media attributes which may make educational media interventions more or less effective with lay care providers, particularly foster and adoptive parents

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Technology

Related Web page: fas.academicedge.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of Relationship

Academic Edge, Inc. educational and behavioral research Employment (includes retainer)

Any company-sponsored training? No

Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission? Yes

Have you received salary support, retainer, or other monies to support your position as part of the research/clinical trials? Yes

Have you served as the Principal Investigator) for the research/clinical trials? Yes

Have the results of your research/clinical trials been published? No

Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of Relationship
Academic Edge, Inc.	educational and behavioral research	Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Recorded presentation

Media and Internet Innovations in Public Health

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA

Any company-sponsored training?	No

Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?	Yes
Have you received salary support, retainer, or other monies to support your position as part of the research/clinical trials?	Yes
Have you served as the Principal Investigator) for the research/clinical trials?	Yes
Have the results of your research/clinical trials been published?	No