iLookOut for Child Abuse -Online Learning Module for Early Childcare Providers

NCT ID: NCT02225301

Last Updated: 2026-01-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 35000 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Phase 1 was a randomized control trial that used a test-retest model to evaluate the impact of iLook Out for Child Abuse, an online, interactive learning module about reporting suspected child abuse. Delivered via a learning management system to early childhood professionals who work with infants and young children, this study assessed iLookOut's effect on 1) knowledge about reporting suspected child abuse; 2) attitudes toward reporting suspected child abuse; and 3) preparedness to protect children at risk.

Findings from Phase 1 were that iLookOut will improved knowledge, changed attitudes, and increase self-reported preparedness of early childhood providers to report suspected child abuse.

Phase 2 of this trial is an open-enrollment study that records pre-/post- data on the same measurements as Phase 1, and is available for use (free of charge) for all childcare providers in Pennsylvania at https://www.ilookoutforchildabuse.com.

Detailed Description

Despite their daily interactions with young children, little research has been conducted into early childhood professionals' (ECPs') knowledge of, and attitudes towards, reporting of child abuse/neglect. This study:

1. Evaluates the effectiveness of the online learning module, iLook Out for Child Abuse, created to train and inform early childhood providers about reporting suspected child abuse;

2. Identifies early childhood providers' current knowledge regarding Pennsylvania law on mandated reporting of suspected child abuse;

3. Explores the factors influencing early childhood providers' current knowledge and attitudes;

4. Evaluates the impact of an online educational program on early childhood providers' knowledge, attitudes, and patterns of decision-making regarding mandated reporting of suspected child abuse;

5. To explores the factors influencing the impact of an online educational program on early childhood providers' knowledge and attitudes regarding mandated reporting of suspected child abuse

Conditions

Child Abuse; Child Neglect; Child Maltreatment

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

iLook Out for Child Abuse

The online learning module is an interactive, multi-media, self-paced intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

iLook Out for Child Abuse

Intervention Type: OTHER

The online learning module is an interactive, multi-media, self-paced intervention.

Interventions

iLook Out for Child Abuse

The online learning module is an interactive, multi-media, self-paced intervention.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Paid or volunteer staff at childcare facility

Exclusion Criteria

• Younger than 18 years of age

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Benjamin H. Levi

Professor of Humanities & Pediatrics

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center / Penn State College of Medicine

Locations

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center / Penn State College of Medicine

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Nicole Verdiglione, BS

Role: CONTACT

nverdiglione@hmc.psu.edu

717-531-8521 ext. 283-765

Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD

Role: CONTACT

BHLEVI@psu.edu

717-531-8778

Facility Contacts

Nicole Verdiglione, BA

Role: primary

nverdiglione@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

717-531-8521 ext. 283-765

Benjamin H Levi, MD PhD

Role: backup

BHLevi@psu.edu

717-531-8521

References

Walsh K, Eggins E, Hine L, Mathews B, Kenny MC, Howard S, Ayling N, Dallaston E, Pink E, Vagenas D. Child protection training for professionals to improve reporting of child abuse and neglect. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Jul 5;7(7):CD011775. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011775.pub2.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 35788913 (View on PubMed)

Yang C, Panlilio C, Verdiglione N, Lehman EB, Hamm RM, Fiene R, Dore S, Bard DE, Grable B, Levi B. Generalizing findings from a randomized controlled trial to a real-world study of the iLookOut, an online education program to improve early childhood care and education providers' knowledge and attitudes about reporting child maltreatment. PLoS One. 2020 Jan 8;15(1):e0227398. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227398. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 31914147 (View on PubMed)

Mathews B, Yang C, Lehman EB, Mincemoyer C, Verdiglione N, Levi BH. Educating early childhood care and education providers to improve knowledge and attitudes about reporting child maltreatment: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2017 May 19;12(5):e0177777. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177777. eCollection 2017.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 28542285 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://www.ilookoutforchildabuse.com

Website for iLookOut learning module

Other Identifiers

IRB-0376

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

IRB-1243

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id