Read to Me! Uptake Study: Informing Practice with Research

Presenting Author: Chrystal Coates Additional Authors: Cyndi Brannen, Stephanie V. van Zanten, Carol McDougall, Patrick McGrath, Hélène Deacon, Richard Goldbloom

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Background: Contents of Bag

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Methods

• N = 1072

• Sample description– Infants between ages of 1-11 months

• Implementation Evaluation: participants answered questions related to the timing and delivery of the program and contents of the bag

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Results

• 99.6 % of parents remembered receiving the RTM bag

• 90.4 % of people were pleased to receive the RTM bag (10 on a 0-10 scale)

• 89.6% of people thought the timing of receiving the bag was good

• 69.6 % of people gave the program a rating of 10 overall (on a 0-10 scale)

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Use of RTM Materials

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RTM Bag Component

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cent

age

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Board Books

RTM Booklet

CD

DVD

Library Card

Library Guide

Coupons

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Board Book Rating

Board book rating

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RTM Booklet

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CD Rating

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DVD Rating

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Library Card Rating

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Library Guide RatingLibrary guide rating

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Coupon Rating

Coupon rating

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RTM Bag

• 17.2 % of people used the list of recommended books in the booklet

• 98.4% have access to the public library

• 73.5% had a library card before RTM bag

– 15.3% got one after getting the RTM bag

• 32.9% of people never visit the library

– 13.8% visit the library once per week

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RTM Bag

• 16.8% have taken out books for their baby from the library

• 97.7% have books for their baby aside from the RTM ones

• 81.8% of people received baby books as gifts• Average number of baby books at home: 44

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PROGRAM CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE UPTAKE STUDY

1. Number of books increased from two to three

2. Bag size was increased to make it more effective as library book bag

3. More nursery rhymes resources included in the bag

4. DVD movie removed from bag and now shown before birth at prenatal fetal monitoring

5. Nursery Rhyme CD being improved

6. Read to Me! hat now included

7. Resource Booklet replaced with Reading Development Calendar

8. Library invitation being revised and improved

9. Program is delivered one day later for mothers who have had caesarian births

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Discussion

• RTM Implementation Evaluation has facilitated an improvement in Read to Me! program materials, timing and delivery based on participant evaluation.

• This strong program-research partnership has helped inform and improve program practice, which will ultimately help to improve early literacy in Nova Scotia.

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Read to Me! Evaluation Team

• Staff: – Stephanie van Zanten – Laura Hambleton

• Volunteers:– Kristina Bradley - Hannah Zimmering– Michelle Tougas - Tyler Mullen– Naomi Stright - Lindsay Peters– Serge Gallant - Danielle Landry– Kyla Magnus - Maureen Metz– Kevin Orrell

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