Testing the Efficacy of the Nurtured Heart Approach: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Arizona
- Enrollment
- 104
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study evaluates the efficacy of the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) to reduce inattention and hyperactivity and impulsivity in children ages 6 - 8 years. Participants are parents or guardians of children diagnosed with, or suspected of, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants are randomized into the immediate (NHA) or delayed (Control) group.
Detailed Description
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends evidence-based parent and/or teacher behavioral therapy and/or medication to treat ADHD. A systematic review by Coates and colleagues found behavioral interventions decreased ADHD behaviors in children. The NHA is an intervention designed to teach parents a set of skills and attitudes to decrease ADHD in children. It has been applied in a number of settings from homes, schools, and foster care agencies both in several states in the U.S. and in over 16 countries. While widely accepted, the Approach has not been evaluated using scientifically rigorous methods.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Parent or guardian of a child diagnosed with ADHD or suspected of ADHD
- •Child must be 6 - 8 years of age
- •Access to a computer with Internet
Exclusion Criteria
- •Child with ADHD, or suspected of ADHD, cannot have a diagnosis of autism
Arms & Interventions
NHA Group
Six-week, online intervention with weekly, sequential, content knowledge and skills practice. Each week included recorded, slide presentations (narrated by the developer of the NHA, Howard Glasser); readings from "The Transforming the Intense Child Workbook" by Howard Glasser with Melissa Lowenstein; participants' skills practice, web postings, and live sessions with Howard Glasser and Advanced NHA Trainers.
Intervention: Nurtured Heart Approach (Behavioral)
Control Group
The Control Group received the same intervention after the collection of NHA Group post-intervention surveys.
Intervention: Nurtured Heart Approach (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
Time Frame: Six-week change from pre-intervention hyperactivity/impulsivity to post-intervention hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Parent reported measure called Conners-3 Parent Short Form. Raw scores are converted into standardized T-scores using age- and sex-specific conversion standards. The minimum T-score is 40 and the maximum is 90. The six content subscales are inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, learning problems, executive function, defiance/aggression, and peer relations. Higher T-scores are worse.
Inattention
Time Frame: Six-week change from pre-intervention inattention to post-intervention inattention.
Parent reported measure called Conners-3 Parent Short Form. Raw scores are converted into standardized T-scores using age- and sex-specific conversion standards. The minimum T-score is 40 and the maximum is 90. The six content subscales are inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, learning problems, executive function, defiance/aggression, and peer relations. Higher T-scores are worse.
Secondary Outcomes
- Parental Stress(Six-week change from pre-intervention parental stress to post-intervention parental stress.)
- Parenting Competency(Six-week change from pre-intervention parenting competency to post-intervention parenting competency.)
Investigators
Velia Nuno
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona