Research aims to improve parenting education

By Nicole Ouellet

Ashley Farrelly, a third-year student in the Faculty of Medicine, will travel to the Dominican Republic this month to explore the effectiveness of a new parent education program for caregivers of young children.

“This project fits well with my future career plans,” says Farrelly, who hopes to work in education at the administrative and leadership level. “Engaging in research that involves the evaluation of an educational program will be beneficial, as it is in line with my academic and personal interests.”

Farrelly’s research will take place at the Dr. Elias Santana Hospital, where all mothers or caregivers attending existing programs on child nutrition have been invited to participate in the eight-week parenting course. Key objectives of her study are to determine how the course is being used, what barriers there are to participation and how to improve participation rates.

Farrelly will closely monitor attendance at the meetings and follow up on information collected from participants. She says this research will open many doors to improve the health and well-being of both parents and children.
“Group parent education programs are a popular strategy to improve child care. Though they are frequently offered, they are often not evaluated,” she says. “The extent of participation within such programs is a key component that needs to be explored when considering their impact.”

Farrelly’s research is one of 58 student projects funded this summer by Programs for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE), an award implemented in 2006 and supported by the vice-president (research) and the provost’s Teaching and Learning Fund.

Farrelly says her summer research will contribute to work done by her professor Dr. John McLennan, the supervisor of the project.

“First and foremost, I hope to contribute a valuable piece of work to the overall research being done by Dr. McLennan. I have a great interest in this project and a strong desire to work hard to complete the part of the project that has been carved out for me,” she says.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PURE AWARDS