Breaking Silence Through Story: guided journaling for parents of children with urogenital conditions
Official title: Breaking Silence Through Story: A Narrative Medicine Intervention for Parents of Children With Urogenital Conditions
Run by Boston Children's Hospital · NCT06989593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program tests whether guided journaling can lower stress and anxiety for parents of children with urogenital conditions such as differences of sex development or hypospadias.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Boston Children's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | November 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06989593 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking parents or legal guardians of children (0–17 years) with DSD or hypospadias who receive care at Boston Children's Hospital and are willing to complete five journaling sessions and a follow-up interview.
✕Probably not a fit
Parents with severe psychiatric disorders that interfere with participation, those unable to complete written or dictated journaling, or non-English speakers are unlikely to benefit from this particular program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Parents of children with urogenital conditions receive a physical journal with five guided prompts and are asked to complete five writing sessions over several weeks, either by writing or dictation. Participants complete the GAD-7 anxiety questionnaire before starting and again after finishing the journaling, and they take part in a 45-minute interview to discuss their experiences. The study collects quantitative change in anxiety scores and qualitative feedback about group-based writing interventions to inform future support programs. Enrollment is limited to English-speaking parents or guardians of children (age 0–17) who receive care at Boston Children's Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce anxiety and improve emotional coping for parents and help shape better support programs at pediatric centers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior expressive writing and narrative medicine studies have shown modest reductions in stress and anxiety in other patient and caregiver groups, but applying these methods specifically to parents of children with DSD or hypospadias is largely novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Parent or legal guardian of a child (age 0-17 years) diagnosed with a urogenital condition (such as differences of sex development or hypospadias) * Able to read and understand English * Willing to complete a guided journaling intervention (through writing or dictation) over a period of approximately 5 weeks * Willing to participate in a 45 minute follow-up interview * Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Parent/guardian with severe psychiatric disorder that would interfere with participation as determined by referring physician * Parent/guardian unable to complete either written journaling activities or dictation * Inability to provide informed consent
Where it's running
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alex Wheelock
- Email: Journaling@childrens.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-919-7031
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.