A program to help parents of children in palliative care build problem-solving skills

Bright IDEAS for Pediatric Palliative Care: A Problem-Solving Skills Intervention to Empower Parent Resilience

Not applicable Interventional Children's Hospital Los Angeles · NCT05899998

This study is testing a new program to help parents of kids in palliative care learn problem-solving skills to see if it can reduce their stress and improve their well-being.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages8 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Hospital Los Angeles Academic / other
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, California)
Trial IDNCT05899998 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of the Bright IDEAS problem-solving skills training for parents of children receiving palliative care. The intervention consists of 6-8 sessions aimed at reducing psychological distress among parents compared to those receiving standard palliative care support. Participants will complete self-report measures to assess their psychological well-being throughout the program. The study seeks to determine if this targeted approach can effectively empower parents during a challenging time.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include parents or legal guardians of children aged 0-21 who are receiving palliative care and can communicate in English or Spanish.

Not a fit: Parents of children with an estimated life expectancy of less than 4 months or those enrolled in other psychoeducational studies may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the mental health and resilience of parents caring for children in palliative care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using psychoeducational interventions to support parents in similar contexts, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Parent

Inclusion Criteria:

* Parents or legal guardians of male and female children (ages 0-21) of any race or ethnicity and of any underlying medical diagnosis
* Child received at least one consult from the Comfort and Palliative Care team within the past month
* One parent or primary caregiver per child
* Able to speak, read, and write English or Spanish, and give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parent age less than 18 years old
* Concurrent enrollment on another research study testing psychoeducational interventions for parents and/or patients
* Child has an estimated life expectancy of less than 4 months at time of study recruitment

Child

Inclusion Criteria:

* Children 8-17 years of age whose primary caregiver has consented to participate
* Able to read and write English or Spanish and assent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Parent refusal to participate

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Psychological DistressQuality of LifeDepressive SymptomsAnxietyPost-Traumatic Stress
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.