SOS program to support caregiver mental health
SOS for Caregiver Wellbeing: Testing the Feasibility of a Screening, Outcomes and Support (SOS) Model for Parents and Caregivers of Children With Chronic Conditions
This program tests whether a short mental health questionnaire completed by parents and caregivers at or before their child's clinic visit, followed by feedback and resource information, helps identify and connect those with stress, anxiety, or depression to support.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Parkville, Victoria) |
| Trial ID | NCT07136584 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-arm prospective trial will recruit 100 parents and caregivers attending neuromuscular or diabetes outpatient clinics at the Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville, Victoria. Participants complete validated mental health screening measures at or before their child's appointment and receive feedback from their clinician or a researcher plus a resource sheet outlining symptoms and referral pathways. Study staff will follow participants at 3 and 6 months to record changes in mental health, quality of life, and use of support services, with nonresponders offered brief in-clinic prompting at 6 months. The primary aims are to test the feasibility and acceptability of integrating routine caregiver screening and feedback into outpatient care and to document how often it leads to connections with support services.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking parents or primary caregivers of children under 18 attending the Royal Children's Hospital neuromuscular or diabetes outpatient clinics who can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: Caregivers who need an interpreter, those not attending the enrolled clinics, or those already receiving adequate mental health care may not receive additional benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help identify caregiver stress, anxiety, or depression earlier and link families to support, potentially improving caregiver wellbeing and family functioning.
How similar studies have performed: Similar screening-and-referral interventions in pediatric and caregiver settings have improved detection of symptoms, though effects on long-term mental health outcomes have been mixed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * must be a parent of a child \<18yo in an outpatient clinic at Royal Children's Hospital (in enrolled clinics either neuromuscular or diabetes) * able to complete a consent form in English without an interpreter Exclusion Criteria: * need for an interpreter to complete informed consent
Where this trial is running
Parkville, Victoria
- Outpatient clinics - Royal Children's Hospital — Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nadia Coscini, BA, MBBS, MSc — Murdoch Children's Research Institute & University of Melbourne
- Study coordinator: Nadia Coscini, BA, MBBS, MSc
- Email: nadia.coscini@mcri.edu.au
- Phone: +61 3 8341 6762
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.