The BEM Program: An innovative online parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged caregiver-child dyads in Brazil

Katherine Solís-Cordero; Patricia Marinho; Patricia Camargo; Silvia Takey; Rogério Lerner; Elizabeth Fujimori

doi:10.1177/20552076231178415

The BEM Program: An innovative online parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged caregiver-child dyads in Brazil

Digit Health. 2023 May 25:9:20552076231178415. doi: 10.1177/20552076231178415. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Katherine Solís-Cordero¹, Patricia Marinho², Patricia Camargo², Silvia Takey², Rogério Lerner³, Elizabeth Fujimori¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Tempo Junto, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Psychology Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the BEM Program, an innovative online parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged caregiver-child dyads in Brazil.

Methods: The Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist was used to describe the BEM Program in detail.

Results: The BEM Program (an acronym for Brincar Ensina Mudar in Portuguese, "Play Teaches Change" in English) refers to the change in adult, child, and dyad outcomes that can be observed through incorporating playful interactions between the caregiver and their child into their daily household chores. Content consisting of 8 videos and 40 text and audio messages was sent entirely online through WhatsApp®. Thus, the Program could be accessed wherever caregivers wanted, if they had their smartphone and Internet access.

Conclusions: The detailed description of an innovative online parenting program focused on caregiver-child interaction and child development contributes to the scarce evidence on this type of programs. Adherence to the program continues to represent one of the main challenges to overcome.

Keywords: Child development; Internet-based intervention; TIDieR; digital health; parent–child interactions.