Children and Teens in Charge of their Health (CATCH): A protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of solution-focused coaching to foster healthy lifestyles in childhood disability.

Amy C McPherson, Elaine Biddiss, Lorry Chen, Paige Terrien Church, Janke F de Groot, Sarah Keenan, Gillian King, Toni Lui, Desiree B Maltais, Chantal Mérette, Hélène Moffet, Fiona Moola, Heidi Schwellnus

Journal: BMJ open 2020;9(3):e025119

PMID: 30837255

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Children with physical disabilities are rarely included in interventions to promote healthy lifestyles, despite being at higher risk for suboptimal dietary and physical activity behaviours. The Children and Teens in Charge of their Health study explores the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a strengths-based, solution-focused coaching intervention for improving and sustaining physical activity and healthy dietary habits in children and young people with physical disabilities.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Thirty children aged 10-18 years with a diagnosis of spina bifida or cerebral palsy who are able to set healthy lifestyle goals will be recruited from two children's rehabilitation hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Participants will be enrolled in the study for twelve months. All participants will receive standard care and printed information about healthy lifestyles. Of the 30 participants, 15 will be randomised to receive a coaching intervention for the first 6 months. Health indicators and psychosocial outcomes will be assessed by blinded assessors four times: at the start of the trial, immediately postintervention (6 months after randomisation), and at 3 and 6 months postintervention (9 and 12 months after randomisation, respectively). Predefined success criteria will be used to assess the feasibility of trial processes such as recruitment, attrition, stratification and intervention fidelity. Acceptability and perceived impact of the intervention will be explored qualitatively.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital's Research Ethics Board (Ref: 17-752). A knowledge translation planning template will be used to ensure our findings have maximum reach.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03523806.

Address: Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.; Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.; Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.; Child Development and Exercise Center, Wilhelmina's Children Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.; Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, Netherlands.; Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.; Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilita, CIUSSS-CN, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.; Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025119

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Cerebral Palsy, Child, Children with Disabilities, Feasibility Studies, Female, Health Promotion, Healthy Lifestyle, Humans, Male, Ontario, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Spinal Dysraphism