Hi Rachel,

Thanks for the question.  You are quite right, the 5 S's would be impossible to study as a double blinded study...this is a controlled study with an experimental group (getting taught the 5 S's...and a DVD + CD of soothing white noise + large swaddling blanket) vs a controlled group (taught normal child care practices, but not the specifics of the 5 S's).

Many controlled studies have already proven the efficacy of swaddling (arms down), white noise, sucking, and rhythmic movement (one has shown body position to be helpful)...a coupelk have shown that when you combine   techniques the benefit is additive...and now this study will look specifically at the 5 S's in combination as taught in our Happiest Educator classes and THBOB DVD. 

Best wishes,

H 
>
>Date:    Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:55:26 EST
>From:    Mardrey Swenson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Double blind studies of comforting techniques
>
>Rachel, you wrote, "How can someone be unaware of whether they are using a  
>specific set of
>techniques, or not?  Is the control group using bogus  comforting techniques,
>and if so, how on earth did they get that one past the  ethical review
>process?"
>
>
>I can imagine that one group might be solely the use of   swaddling and 
>holding the baby who has begun to cry,  or holding and  just shushing, or holding 
>the baby and swaying for example, as opposed to the  application of the 5 Ss in 
>order recommended.  I don't think it would be  unethical to do what many 
>parents might do by picking up a crying baby and  holding them and swaying with 
>them for instance or walking around the room with  the swaddled baby.  
> 
>Or if the parents are involved, they might be instructed to respond and  
>comfort the baby in the manner they usually use. And perhaps the experimental  
>group would be taught the sequence of calming techniques.  Or taught to the  
>parents of the same baby after the parents had used their customary ones. 
> 
>The babies could be videoed and the time it takes for them to stop crying  
>measured.  But as it's not be delineated in the original e-mail, it does  make 
>you wonder exactly what the protocols will be.
> 
>Mardrey Swenson

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