Virtual Peer-to-Peer Support Mentoring for Adolescents With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Feasibility
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Study Hypothesis: A virtual peer-to-peer support intervention will improve health outcomes and quality of life in adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Detailed Description
The aim of this project is to develop and examine the impact of a virtual peer support program on health outcomes and quality of life of adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis using a waitlist randomized controlled trial. In addition to standard medical care, adolescents in the experimental group will receive a manualized peer mentorship program that will provide modeling and reinforcement by trained young adults aged 16-25 years who have learned to function successfully with their pain. Mentoring sessions consist of 10 sessions of 30-45 minute Skype calls over 8 weeks. Feasibility of the program will be measured in addition to quality of life, physical and emotional symptoms, pain coping, self-efficacy, social support, and self-management skills.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 12 Years to 18 Years (Child, Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •males and females 12-18 years old
- •diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) by a Rheumatologist (any sub-type)
- •able to speak and read English
- •access to Internet connection, computer capable of using free Skype software
- •willing and able to complete online measures
Exclusion Criteria
- •significant cognitive impairments
- •major co-morbid illnesses (i.e., psychiatric conditions) likely to influence HRQL assessment
- •participating in peer support or self-management interventions (e.g., Teens Taking Charge).
Arms & Interventions
Virtual Peer-to-Peer Support Mentoring
In addition to standard medical care, adolescents in the experimental group will receive the VP2P support program, a manualized peer-mentorship program that will provide modeling and reinforcement by peers (young adults with JIA aged 16-25 years who have learned to function successfully with their JIA to the mentored participants).
Intervention: Virtual Peer-to-Peer Support Mentoring (Behavioral)
Wait-list Control
The control group will receive usual care but without the mentorship intervention. They will be offered the VP2P support program after completion of outcome measures (T1 - to be completed online prior to randomization; T2 - at program completion).
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Feasibility
Time Frame: 2 months
1. Accrual and Dropout Rates - recruitment and withdrawal rates will be calculated that the end of the study. 2. Compliance (Level of Engagement) - rates of completion of weekly calls and online outcome measures will be calculated that the end of the study - defined as 100% when the participant completes 10 calls over 8 weeks with all online measures completed. 3. Adolescents' Perception of JIA VP2P Program - the acceptability of and satisfaction with the JIA VP2P support program as measured through semi-structured phone interviews with mentees and focus groups with mentors 4. Estimates of Intervention Effects (e.g., effect sizes, variance measures/standard deviation) on health outcomes to inform the calculation of an appropriate sample size for the future definitive multi-centred randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Secondary Outcomes
- Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL)(Baseline, 2 months)
- Self-Efficacy(Baseline, 2 Months)
- Pain(Baseline, 2 months)
- Adherence(Baseline, 2 Months)
- Knowledge and Social Support(Baseline, 2 Months)
Investigators
Jennifer Stinson
Principal Investigator
The Hospital for Sick Children