Mobile app support for parents managing symptoms of children with complex medical needs

Is Nurse Parental Support Using a Proactive Mobile Health Application More Effective Than Usual Community Care in Enhancing Parental Self-efficacy in Symptom Management for the CMC in Communities: A RCT

Not applicable Interventional The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · NCT05765643

This study is testing a mobile app that helps parents of children with serious medical conditions learn to manage their child's symptoms better and feel more confident in their care.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment96 (estimated)
Ages2 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Kowloon, Kowloon and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05765643 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to provide nurse parental support through a mobile health application to assist parents of children with medical complexity in managing their child's symptoms. The intervention focuses on enhancing parental self-efficacy, which is crucial for improving the health status of children suffering from conditions such as cancer and muscular atrophy. Given the challenges posed by a nursing workforce shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach offers a feasible alternative to traditional home-based nursing services. Parents will be guided on how to effectively use the app to monitor and manage their child's symptoms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are parents of children aged 2-18 with medical complexity who can communicate and read in Chinese and have access to a smartphone.

Not a fit: Parents with reported mental health disorders or those living in areas without internet coverage may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve the quality of life for both children with medical complexity and their parents by enhancing symptom management capabilities.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile health applications for symptom management, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

The eligible criteria for parents are:

1. parent of a child with medical complexity aged 2-18
2. having a Smartphone
3. able to communicate in Chinese and read Chinese
4. living with his/her child at home.

Exclusion Criteria:

The exclusion criteria for parents are

1. a reported mental health disorder
2. engaging in other structured programs related to symptom management 3) living in an area with no internet coverage.

Where this trial is running

Kowloon, Kowloon and 1 other locations

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 Child With CancerMuscular AtrophyChild With Cerebral PalsyChild With Medical ComplexityChild with medical complexityChild with cancerparental self-efficacymobile health application
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.