ACT Together: web program with brief coaching for parents of children with disabilities in pediatric outpatient clinics

ACT Together: Implementing a Web-Based Program With Brief Coaching for Parents of Children With Disabilities in Pediatric Outpatient Clinics

This project will test a six-module web-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program plus brief phone coaching to help parents of children with disabilities manage stress and mood.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of South Florida (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Tampa, Florida)
• Trial ID: NCT07360600 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a one-group, pretest–posttest mixed-methods pilot delivering six self-paced web ACT modules plus six brief weekly phone coaching sessions by occupational therapists working in pediatric outpatient clinics. The study is coordinated by the University of South Florida and completed remotely using secure online platforms, with coaching delivered by phone. Primary outcomes focus on feasibility, usability, acceptability, and preliminary changes in parent mental health and coping measures, supplemented by qualitative interviews about participant and therapist experiences. Recruitment uses clinic-based flyers to enroll therapists and parent caregivers, who complete baseline and post-intervention questionnaires online.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adult primary caregivers (aged ≥18) of children under 18 with disabilities who receive services at a participating pediatric clinic, are willing to learn coping strategies, and have reliable internet access are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Parents with recent suicidal intent or attempts, major cognitive/physical/sensory or language barriers that prevent participation, those enrolled in another parent support study, or without reliable internet access are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could give parents easier access to practical coping skills and reduce stress and depressive symptoms through a scalable web-plus-coaching model.

How similar studies have performed: Prior internet-based ACT programs and brief coaching have shown benefits for parental stress and mental health in other settings, but implementation specifically through pediatric outpatient occupational therapists is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria (Parents of children with disabilities):

1. Community-dwelling adults (aged ≥18 years) with primary caregiving responsibility for a child with disabilities (aged \<18 years) who is enrolled in a participating clinic;
2. Expected to use services at the participating clinic at least once per week over the next three months;
3. Willing to learn strategies to cope with emotions and thoughts; and
4. Have access to a web-enabled device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop) with reliable internet access at home or in a public space (e.g., library).

Exclusion Criteria (Parents of children with disabilities):

1. Cognitive, physical, sensory impairments, or language barriers (non-English speaking) that would impede participation;
2. Suicidal intent or suicide attempt(s) within the past six months;
3. Participation in another parent support research study at the time of recruitment; or
4. More than three hospitalizations of either the parent or child within the past year, or other serious health concerns that would interfere with program engagement.

Inclusion Criteria (Occupational therapists):

1. Have three or more years of clinical experience in a pediatric setting and be willing to participate in training, program implementation, and study evaluations; and
2. Currently work in a clinic that serves at least 15 children who attend the clinic at least once per week.

Exclusion Criteria (Occupational therapists): N/A

Where this trial is running

Tampa, Florida

• University of South Florida — Tampa, Florida, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Areum Han, PhD — University of South Florida
• Study coordinator: Areum Han, PhD

Conditions Parents; Children With Disabilities; Stress; Depression; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; web-based intervention; internet-based intervention; occupational therapist