A program to support parents of children with special health care needs
Effectiveness of Prosocial-orientated Acceptance and Commitment Training (PACT) Programme for Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs in Response to Outbreaks of Novel Infectious Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial
This study tests a 12-week smartphone program that helps parents of children with special health care needs improve their parenting skills and mental well-being during tough times.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 196 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05467527 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial evaluates a 12-week smartphone-based program that combines Prosocial-oriented Acceptance and Commitment Training (PACT) with positive parenting advice. The aim is to enhance psychological flexibility, prosocial behavior, parenting competence, and family functioning among parents of children with special health care needs. The study also assesses the mental well-being of parent-child dyads over a 12-month follow-up period. The intervention is particularly relevant in the context of increased psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Cantonese-speaking parents residing in Hong Kong who care for preschool or school-aged children with special health care needs.
Not a fit: Parents with severe mental illnesses or developmental disabilities may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the mental health and parenting skills of caregivers, leading to better outcomes for children with special health care needs.
How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on psychological interventions for caregivers, this specific approach using smartphone-based PACT is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents * Living together with the child who is at preschool/school-age (3-8 years old) * Caregivers who adopted the responsibility of taking care of the child, * has daily access to their iPhone and Android smartphones. In addition, potential eligible parents who respond "yes" to any of the five validated screening questions in the Children with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) Screener (see https://www.childhealthdata.org/docs/cshcn/technical-summary-of-cshcn-screener.pdf) will then be asked the associated follow-up questions to determine whether the child possesses physical, neurodevelopmental/emotional problem(s) that has lasted for at least 12 months. Only children with a positive response(s) to ≥ 1 item in each of the associated follow-up questions will be classified as children with SHCN. Exclusion Criteria: * Parents who have diagnoses of severe mental illness or developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities
Where this trial is running
Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon and 1 other locations
- Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Children's Hospital — Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Recruiting)
- Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association — Kowloon, Hong Kong (Completed)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Yuen Yu Chong, PhD — Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Study coordinator: Yuen Yu Chong, PhD
- Email: conniechong@cuhk.edu.hk
- Phone: (852) 3943 0665
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.