Parent-administered tuina to help children with ADHD improve sleep and appetite

Parent-administered Pediatric Tuina for Improving Sleep Quality and Appetite in School-aged Children With ADHD: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is testing whether a traditional Chinese massage technique that parents can do at home can help children with ADHD sleep better and eat more.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 6 Years to 8 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
• Trial ID: NCT06007742 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized controlled trial explores the effects of parent-administered pediatric tuina, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, on improving sleep quality and appetite in school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD. The study involves parents learning tuina techniques to apply to their children, aiming to address the limitations of conventional ADHD treatments. Previous focus group interviews indicated that parents observed significant improvements in their children's symptoms, including better sleep and eating habits, after using this approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 6-8 years with a documented diagnosis of ADHD and significant sleep disturbances.

Not a fit: Patients currently receiving other tuina treatments or those with additional developmental disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide a non-pharmacological option for improving sleep and appetite in children with ADHD.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is relatively novel, previous studies on pediatric tuina have shown promising results in managing ADHD symptoms.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Inclusion criteria for the children are the following:

  1. Children: Aged 6-8 years old by the start of the assessment (according to the Hong Kong Education Bureau, 6 years old is considered suitable for primary school education)
  2. Have an internationally recognized diagnosis or documentation of ADHD
  3. Have a score of more than 39 on the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)
* Inclusion criteria for the parents are the following

  1. Ability to communicate in Cantonese
  2. Willingness to learn the knowledge and manipulations of pediatric tuina for ADHD symptoms
  3. Available to visit the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to attend the course as scheduled in accordance with the trial process
  4. Sign the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

* Exclusion criteria for the children are the following:

  1. Currently receiving other tuina (or massage) treatments
  2. Having other developmental disorders (e.g., autism, intellectual disability)
  3. Having acute infectious diseases (e.g., scarlet fever, chicken pox, etc.), hemorrhagic diseases (e.g., bleeding, local places of various kinds of malignant tumor), or dermatological problems (e.g., scald, severe skin lesion, skin infections)
  4. Having any severe illness or medical condition (e.g., fractures, paraplegia) that are not suitable to receive pediatric tuina
* Exclusion criteria for the parents are the following:

  1. Having any severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., major depression)
  2. Having difficulties to conduct massage therapy due to physical problems
  3. Having a score less than 22 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Cara CHEN

Conditions ADHD