Shared Book Reading to Promote Mental Well-being Among Young People with and Without Down's Syndrome: a Pilot Dyadic Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Enrolling By Invitation
- Sponsor
- University of Macau
- Enrollment
- 40
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- PedsQL4.0
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Abstract Background: With the progress of society and the deepening of people's understanding of Down syndrome (DS), research has shifted focus on how to improve the quality of life and education for young people with DS. This study shall pilot a shared book reading intervention to test for potential benefit and feasibility.
Methods: This study is an 8 weeks long pilot dyadic randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing a shared book reading intervention to a minimal activity control, this study will then continue for 12 months as a single arm cohort study. Young people with DS and university undergraduate students will be recruited and formed into dyads then randomized to either intervention or control. The shared book reading activity will include partnering young people with DS and university students together for a weekly, 1-hour shared book reading session. The control group will be supplied with three books they can read in their free time during 8 weeks. The primary outcomes included young people with DS health-related quality of life measured using the Children's Quality of Life Scale (PedsQL4.0). Secondary outcomes include mental well-being in university students using the Engagement, Perseverance, Optimism, Connectedness, and Happiness scale (EPOCH). Measurements will be made at baseline (T0) and 8-week (T1). After 8 weeks all participants will be offered to continue in the study where all participants will join the shared book reading weekly intervention and outcomes measures will be made at 6-month (T2), and 12-month (T3) follow-up. Mixed linear regression models shall be conducted comparing intervention and control group at 8 weeks. At 6-months and 12-months follow-up change scores from baseline will be analyzed to test for potential long-term effect.
Anticipated results: If our pilot study can show that shared book reading activities for people with DS can be of benefit and feasible, this can lead to a fully powered randomized controlled trial.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 2 Years to 35 Years (Child, Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •for Participants with Down Syndrome (DS):
- •Clinical diagnosis of Down Syndrome (DS).
- •Aged 2 years or older.
- •Able to participate in the intervention and study evaluation independently or with the support of caregivers or family members.
- •Inclusion Criteria for University of Macau (UM) Students:
- •Aged 18 years or older.
- •Able to read and understand books in English or Chinese.
- •Able to communicate in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
- •Do not have severe visual or reading disabilities that may affect reading ability.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Have severe visual or reading disabilities.
Arms & Interventions
Shared book reading intervention
An 8-week pilot binary randomized controlled trial involving one hour of shared book reading per week in young people with and without Down syndrome.
Intervention: Shared book reading intervention (Behavioral)
Control Group
Those in the control group will be informed that they will wait 8 weeks before they can join the shared book reading sessions. Dyads will not be put in contact with each other. To keep young people with DS engaged with the study, those in the control group will be offered 3 books, from the selection of 20, that they can read themselves during the control period. After the 8-week period those that attend the shared book reading sessions will be introduced to their dyadic partner to participate in the sessions fully.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
PedsQL4.0
Time Frame: PEDSQL4.0 is assessed at three time points: Baseline (T0), 8 weeks (T1), and 6 months (T2). This allows for tracking changes in health-related quality of life over time among participants.
Health related quality of life for young people with DS will be measured using the Children's Quality of Life Scale (PedsQL4.0). The Child Quality of Life Scale (PedsQL) is a common tool used to assess a child's quality of life and can be used to measure quality of life (QOL) in children and adolescents aged 2-18 years with acute or chronic medical conditions, including DS. The PedsQL4.0 covering domains of physical functioning, emotional state, social interaction, and school performance, as well as providing a total score for overall quality of life. The PedsQL4.0 items ask to what extent the participant has had problems in the past month. The higher the score on the PedsQL4.0 tool indicates a higher the quality of life. The questionnaire showed good psychometric characteristics among young people and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha range was 0.66 to 0.93).
Secondary Outcomes
- The Global Perceived Effects scale (GPE)(GPE is assessed at this time points: 8 weeks (T1). This allows for tracking changes in health-related quality of life over time among participants.)
- EPOCH(EPOCH is assessed at three time points: Baseline (T0), 8 weeks (T1), and 6 months (T2). This allows for tracking changes in mental health over time among participants.)
- Friendship quality questionnaire (FQQ)(FQQ is assessed at time points: 6 months (T2). This allows for tracking changes in friendship quality over time among participants.)
Investigators
Robert Smith
Assistant Professor
University of Macau