EVALUATION OF THE PILOT SERIES
Once the first pilot series was presented, feedback
from the attendees was solicited for validation of content
and suggestions for improvement. For example,
reference lists were developed and shared with the
participants. A primary concern of the participants
was establishing healthy sleep habits for multiples and
ideas for parents coping with sleep deprivation. An
entire unit was developed to address these concerns
and to reinforce safe sleeping habits. Verbal feedback
was requested and written evaluation cards were completed
after each session. The curriculum has since
continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of
the participants based on their ongoing evaluations.
Some expectant parents were very well-educated
health-care consumers who had already done a lot of
research. That meant the typical parenting questions
on feeding and bathing a baby were necessary, but not
the primary focus of the class anymore. Although immediate
postpartum infant care was covered, adjusting
the content to understanding infant sleep and how
to promote it, and to get sleep as parents with twins or
triplets, was information all the parents wanted. A list
of handouts that were developed in response to the
parents’ feedback is presented in Table 2.