Parenting in the Preschool System Cluster RCT in Malaysia

NCT07599566 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: R94406/RE00110.17605/OSF.IO/AZ3NY
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 772
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid human-digital playful parenting programme, "Naungan Kasih-Hybrid (NK-Hybrid)", in Malaysia. The programme is facilitated by teachers from Malaysian preschools for low-income families, consisting of a) one in-person session to introduce caregivers to the programme, b) teacher-facilitated WhatsApp support groups, and c) an interactive chatbot-led parenting programme featured on WhatsApp, called "Naungan Kasih-Text (NKText)". It tests the effectiveness of this package in a cluster-randomised trial, with 50 preschools as clusters, randomly assigned to either the treatment group or a waitlist control group. Findings from this study will provide evidence for the effectiveness of a low-cost and scalable intervention integrating digital modalities with a "light-touch" in-person component to improve educational outcomes in children attending preschools for low-income families, and thereby address social inequalities in Malaysia. N = 50 Clusters, 772 Primary Caregivers, 304 Secondary Caregivers, and 754 Children. Enrolment reflects participating primary caregivers.

Conditions

Positive Parenting; Child Maltreatment; Child Development; Child Behavior; Parenting Stress; Parent Mental Health

Keywords

parenting intervention; child development; parenting

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Child early learning and development

  Children's early learning and development (caregiver- and teacher-report) will be measured using 23 items from the National Preschool Standards-Based Curriculum Assessment (Malaysia); scale = 0-2; higher score indicates better outcome.

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Positive Parenting

  Positive parenting will be measured using 14 items from the Parenting Young Children Scale (PARYC) (McEachern et al., 2012). (Caregiver Report); (0-6); higher score indicates better outcome.

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Child Literacy and Numeracy

  Direct child assessments of child learning and development will be conducted by trained research assistants and assessed using an adapted version of the Remote Assessment of Learning (ReAL) High-Access version (Save the Children International, 2021), specifically the Literacy and Numeracy subscales. 12 domains, total score = mean of % correct for each domain; higher score indicates better outcome.

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Parent involvement in playful learning

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Child Maltreatment

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Child externalising symptoms

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Parenting Stress

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

• Anxiety and depression

  Baseline, 3-5 months post-baseline, 12-15 months post-baseline

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Intervention group participants will receive one in-person onboarding session, NKText - a self-guided chatbot providing parenting support, and facilitated WhatsApp support groups.

Behavioral: Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Programme

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will not receive the intervention until after the completion of the intervention period and the final follow-up data collection. Throughout the study period, participants in all groups may access any other interventions, programs, or services that are not part of the study intervention.

Interventions

Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Programme BEHAVIORAL

The programme is facilitated by teachers from Malaysian preschools for low-income families, consisting of a) one in-person session to introduce caregivers to the programme, b) teacher-facilitated WhatsApp support groups, and c) an interactive chatbot-led parenting programme featured on WhatsApp, called "Naungan Kasih-Text".

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Preschools (clusters):
• Registered Ministry of Rural Development (KEMAS) preschool
• Has a class of 20 or more children aged 4-6 years
• Selected by KEMAS leadership as available to participate
• Class teacher is willing to deliver the programme and participates in programme training
• Parents/Caregivers:
• Responsible for a child aged 4-6 years enrolled in a participating KEMAS preschool
• Aged 18 years or older
• Has access to a mobile phone compatible with WhatsApp
• Provides informed consent
• Children:
• Enrolled in a participating KEMAS preschool
• Aged 4-6 years
• Parent provides consent
• Provides verbal assent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Oxford: lead
• Universiti Putra Malaysia: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Location

Related Links

• OSF Pre-Registration
• Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Child Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The trial statisticians (GJMT, SV) conducting randomisation and analyses will be blinded to condition. Blinding of participants is not possible given the nature of the intervention. Enumerators are blinded at baseline assessments (T0) and will remain blinded at the endline (T1) and follow-up (T2) assessments, although it is plausible that they may find out from participants which individuals received the intervention.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: This study is a cluster randomised control trial with 50 preschools (clusters) randomly allocated, in a 1:1 ratio, to either a treatment or a control group. Those assigned to the intervention arm will receive the hybrid in-person digital intervention. Those assigned to the control group will be waitlisted to receive the intervention after completion of the research (i.e., 12 months post-baseline).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 14, 2026
• First Posted: May 20, 2026
• Study Start: July 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 17, 2025
• Study Completion: October 17, 2025
• Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Deidentified participant data will be available beginning 12 months after publication of the planned article publication to allow completion of planned secondary analyses by the study team; no end date for availability.
• Access Criteria: Requests for access will require submission of a brief description of the intended use. Requests will be reviewed by the study team. Access will be granted following approval of the request and completion of appropriate data access procedures.

Locations

MY (1)