Overview
The aim of this project is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a virtual group based self-management program (SMP) in adolescents with JIA across different provinces compared to a wait-list control group receiving only standard of care.
Participants in the SMP group will partake in four 60-90 minute group sessions conducted over 8 weeks. The intervention is a multifaceted program that includes JIA disease education, self-management strategies, and peer support. Both the interventional and control group will be asked to complete baseline and post-test measures.
Participants in the control group will be offered the SMP after completion of the post-control outcome measures.
Description
A pilot RCT will be conducted to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness comparing the SMP intervention group with a wait-list control group receiving usual care. A total of 100 participants with confirmed JIA (ages 12 to 17) will be recruited from five Canadian pediatric rheumatology centres of different provinces and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the control or intervention groups. Adolescents in the intervention group will receive the virtual SMP program in addition to standard of care. The intervention is a multifaceted program that includes JIA disease education, self-management strategies, and peer support. Four 60-90- minute sessions will be conducted over eight weeks with a group size of 4-6 participants. Both groups will receive usual care. Participants in the control group will be offered the SMP after completion of the post-control outcome measure. If participants choose to enroll in the SMP, the participants will be asked to complete outcome measures a second time upon completion of the program.
The primary objective is feasibility outcome that will be measured as adherence with the SMP Program (defined as 80% completion). Other feasibility outcomes will include:
(A) recruitment and withdrawal rates (>80% recruitment rate and <80% withdrawal); (B) proportion of completed questionnaires (C) engagement and satisfaction with the SMP program as measured through a semi-structured virtual interview with the participants following involvement in the SMP; (D) intervention fidelity (consistent content and technology delivery).
The secondary objective on preliminary effectiveness includes completion of five validated and reliable patient-reported outcome measures at two-time points: perceived ability to manage JIA (self-management), pain interference, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and transition readiness. These questionnaires will include:
(A) Medical Issues, Exercise, Pain, and Social Support Questionnaire (MEPS), (B) Children's Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES), (C) Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Rheumatology - Teen Module (Peds QL, (D) PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale (PROMIS) and RACER (Readiness for Adult Care in Rheumatology). Descriptive statistical methods and non-parametric tests will be used to analyze the data.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17
- Confirmed diagnosis within 2 years according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology JIA classification criteria (2)
- Followed in one of the pediatric rheumatology clinics participating in the RCT
- Able to access the Internet on a computer
- Willing and able to complete online measures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Insufficient English reading and speaking skills
- Untreated psychiatric or comorbid disorders or major cognitive impairments leading to inability to understand materials and participate in the SMP group activities.
- Other chronic conditions such as other autoimmune disease, neurologic, orthopedics or other systems disorder (e.g. heart, kidney) that might influence outcome assessments
- Past participation in the last year or participating in another peer-support or self-management program