2 Moderators Guide

OMB Number: 0925-0643

Expiration Date: 10/31/2014

Back To Sleep Focus Groups: Moderator’s Guide for Caregivers

Introduction	Hello. My name is ________ and I’m the moderator for tonight’s group. The main purpose of our discussion is to get your opinions about some health issues and campaign logos. I have nothing to sell today. This is a consumer opinion project. I am a consultant and have been asked to lead our discussion tonight. Feel free to make positive or negative comments about any of the things we’ll be discussing tonight. This is a free-flowing discussion and there are no wrong answers. I also want to assure you that I had nothing to do with creating the materials we’ll be looking at tonight. I will not be offended in any way by anything you say so please feel free to speak your mind.
Disclosures	Discussion Group Setting: Mention mikes, mirrors, observers, & audio taping The session is being taped so I can write an accurate report afterward, not of “who said what,” but “what was said.” Your name will not be used in the report.
Guidelines	In order to make this a useful research session, there are some guidelines to follow: Please talk one at a time and in a voice at least as loud as mine. I need to hear from everyone, and to the degree possible, let’s have equal “air time,” so that everybody talks about the same amount—nobody talks too much and nobody talks too little. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions I ask—there are different points of view. It’s valuable for me to hear all points of view, so it’s especially important to speak up when you disagree with what someone else has said. I also want to assure you that I won’t be hurt or penalized by any criticism you might have. I may need to move to another topic sooner than you are ready, and I may have to cut a conversation short in the interest of time. If I interrupt you it is not personal; I just want to get to everything that is planned. You’re welcome to speak to me after the group so I can be sure I get all your thoughts and comments.
Permission	At any time you can excuse yourself to go to the restroom or to get more food or beverages. I ask that only one person should be up or about at a time.
Self-Intros	Before we get started, let’s introduce ourselves to each other. Let’s go around the room and tell us: Your first name Gender and age of child that you care for Where you live An activity you like to do with your child(ren) (a favorite leisure-time activity)

Topic A: General (10 minutes)

1. Tonight we’ll be talking about safe sleep for babies under 12 months old. Your feedback will inform a campaign being implemented by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, or NICHD. To start, please take a minute to try and visualize a safe sleep environment for a baby of this age. What would this look like?
   
   Probe:
   What position is the baby sleeping in?
   What is the baby wearing?
   What is in the crib?
   How does the room feel in terms of temperature?
   
   
   

Topic B: Awareness (40 minutes)

2. Have you heard of sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS?
   
   [If anyone responds no] SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year of age.
   
   
   

3. What are some of the ways you have heard for how to reduce the risk of SIDS?
   
   
   

4. What have you heard about sleep position?
   
   Probe:
   Should the baby sleep on his/her back, side, or stomach?
   
   Read:
   The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends that babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.

5. What do you think would help parents and other caregivers follow that recommendation?
   
   Probe:
   What do you think would keep parents or other caregivers from following that recommendation?
   
   
   

6. What have you heard about co-sleeping or bed sharing?
   
   Probe:
   Should your baby sleep with you in the bed?
   How about with you on the couch?
   
   Read:

AAP recommends that you keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside co-sleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.

7. What do you think would help parents and other caregivers follow that recommendation?
   
   Probe:
   What do you think would keep parents or other caregivers from following that recommendation?
   
   
   

8. What have you heard about bedding, bumpers or stuffed animals?
   
   Probe:
   Should your baby sleep with a blanket or a pillow?
   Should your baby sleep with any toys or stuffed animals?

Should crib bumpers be used?

Read:
The AAP recommends that you keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby's sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby's face. If you use a blanket, place the baby with feet at the end of the crib. The blanket should reach no higher than the baby's chest. Tuck the ends of the blanket under the crib mattress to ensure safety.

9. What do you think would help parents and other caregivers follow that recommendation?
   
   Probe:
   What do you think would keep parents or other caregivers from following that recommendation?
   
   
   

10. [Only if time allows] What have you heard about the temperature of the baby’s room?
    
    Probe:
    How warm should the baby’s room be?
    
    Read:
    The AAP recommends that you do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

11. What do you think would help parents and other caregivers follow that recommendation?
    
    Probe:
    What do you think would keep parents or other caregivers from following that recommendation?
    
    
    

12. [Only if time allows] What have you heard about the use of a pacifier?
    
    Probe:
    Should you let your baby sleep with or without a pacifier?
    
    Read:
    The AAP recommends that you think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don't force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)
    
    
    

13. What do you think would help parents and other caregivers follow that recommendation?
    
    Probe:
    What do you think would keep parents or other caregivers from following that recommendation?
    
    
    

Topic C: Logo and Message Testing (40 minutes)

We are considering different logos for a campaign to promote safe sleep for infants. We will present 3 logos and ask what you think of each one.

For each logo I’m going to ask you to assign each one a grade like in school, where “A” is the best and “F” is a failing grade. I’d like you to write down a grade for each logo I show you. After I have shown you all 3, we will go back and discuss each concept, one at a time. I’ll ask you to share the grade you gave each one as well as some of the reasons you gave each one the grade you did.

Show the first logo. Rotate order.

14. If you had to give this image a grade, like in school, where “A” is the best and “F” is a failing grade, what grade would you give this logo?

15. How would you sum up in a few words your first impression of this logo?
    
    Probe:

Do you like it? Not like it?
What makes you say that?

16. How well does the image in this logo convey the idea of a safe sleep environment?

17. What do you think of the words—or tagline—underneath the image?

Probe:
Do the words go with the image?

18. What, if anything, would you change about this?
    
    Probe:
    Why?
    
    

Repeat questions 14 through 17 after each logo option.

After discussing each of the ideas, show the respondent all 3 ideas and ask the following questions.

19. Now that you have seen all the logos, which IMAGE would you recommend and why?
    
    
    

20. Now that you’ve seen all of these logos, which TAGLINE would you recommend and why?

Topic D: Wrap Up (10 minutes)

21. What else should NICHD keep in mind as they develop educational materials for parents like you?

We appreciate your taking the time to participate in this interview. Thank you very much.

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