Video-assisted counseling for parents before a child's lumbar puncture
Official title: The Use of an Audio-visual Method in Counseling for Pediatric Lumbar Puncture Procedure. A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Run by Oman Ministry of Health · NCT07409220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether showing parents a short video along with usual verbal counseling makes them more likely to agree to a lumbar puncture for children newborn to 12 years in the pediatric emergency room.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Hours to 13 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 154 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Oman Ministry of Health Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Muscat, Muḩāfaz̧at Masqaţ) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 31, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | July 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07409220 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Parents or legal guardians of children newborn to 12 years who are suspected of having meningitis, recommended for an emergent lumbar puncture in the Royal Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department, and who speak Arabic or English are eligible.
✕Probably not a fit
Parents who do not speak Arabic or English, children for whom a lumbar puncture is not recommended, or situations where consent has already been given will not benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an open-label, randomized controlled trial at the Royal Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department in Muscat comparing two counseling approaches for parents whose children are recommended to have an emergent lumbar puncture for suspected meningitis. Parents are randomized 1:1 to receive usual verbal counseling alone or verbal counseling plus a short audio-visual video illustration, with randomization stratified by three child age groups. The primary outcome is parental acceptance (consent) rate for the lumbar puncture; secondary objectives include documenting reasons for refusal and exploring healthcare worker perspectives on using the video in the emergency setting. The trial enrolls parents/legal guardians who speak Arabic or English and are approached during the emergency visit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the video-assisted counseling could increase parental consent rates, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment of suspected pediatric meningitis.
How similar studies have gone: Similar audio-visual and video-aid approaches have improved understanding and consent rates in other pediatric and procedural settings, but application specifically for emergent pediatric lumbar puncture is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All Parents/legal guardians of 0-13 years old children who were identified to get an emergent lumbar puncture procedure, as decided by the attending physician during the Emergency Department shift. * Participants who speak Arabic or English Exclusion Criteria: \- Participants who are not Arabic nor English speakers.
Where it's running
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The Royal Hospital
Muscat, Muḩāfaz̧at Masqaţ, Oman Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tahlil N AlAmri, MD
- Email: r22114@resident.omsb.org
- Phone: 0096895622148
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.