CARTOON: CoronAviRus (COVID-19) educaTional prOgram fOr childreN

NCT04724616 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2128/2020
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 57
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Our study aims to investigate whether our CoronAviRus educaTional prOgram fOr children (CARTOON) facilitates the adherence to hygiene measures and is feasible to dispel fear in preschool children (3-6 years old) during the pandemic.

Conditions

Covid19; Pediatric Psychiatric Disorder; Psychological Stress

Keywords

Educational Program; education

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change of Emotional Outcome

  For the assessment of emotional wellbeing, fear, and burden during the pandemic we will use the emotional scale which measure feelings including emotional wellbeing, fear, and burden. Since it is often hard for children to describe their own feelings with words, we will use the emotional scales of Gräßler and colleagues. These scales use child-friendly illustrated pictures and can be used to support the children in naming their feelings including emotional wellbeing, fear, and burden.

  Baseline (before the intervention), 1 day after the intervention and three months after the intervention

• Change of Knowledge Outcome

  The corona quiz consists of a 18-item questionnaire and covers theoretical and practical knowledge. Content validity of the knowledge test was reviewed by an expert panel consisting of three psychologists with expertise in children health, one kindergarten teacher, and one pediatrician.

  Baseline (before the intervention), 1 day after the intervention and three months after the intervention

• Baseline Behavior of the Participants

  Behavior will be assessed by using the parent and teacher reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The CBCL is a questionnaire for parents and teachers revealing behavioral problems of children and adolescents. In the CBCL/1.5-5, two evaluation methods are available. In the first evaluation method, questions are grouped in seven empirically based problem scales including emotionally reactive, anxious/depressed, aggressive behavior, attention problems, somatic complaints, sleep problems, and withdrawn.

  Baseline (before the intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Nationality of parents

  Baseline (before the intervention)

• First language of parents

  Baseline (before the intervention)

• Highest degree of school education

  Baseline (before the intervention)

• Profession of the parents

  Baseline (before the intervention)

• Financial standing of the parents

  Baseline (before the intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants received no specific educational program

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received our educational program for five days, with one teaching session per day. Every teaching session will be conducted for 60 minutes in a group of up to 6 children by a trained member of our staff.

Other: Educational Program (CARTOON)

Interventions

Educational Program (CARTOON) OTHER

CARTOON is an interdisciplinary psychoeducational intervention program. It consists of five teaching sessions: 1) hand hygiene, not grasping the face, 2) sneezing etiquette, 3) wearing a mask, 4) social distancing, and 5) theoretical knowledge about the coronavirus. Using special exercises and games, information about the coronavirus is conveyed in a child friendly manner.

Also known as: Education, Psycho-educational intervention

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Years - 6 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children between three and six years who are attending kindergarten
• consent of the parents and the participants

You may not qualify if:

• physically unable to complete any of the training exercises
• German skills not good enough to follow the instructions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University of Vienna: lead

Study Sites (1)

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, 1020, Austria

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Steinbauer P, Bichler M, Fuiko R, Seferagic S, Haas H, Lisy T, Weinmuller S, Berger A, Olischar M, Panagl A, Giordano V. CARTOON-based educational intervention for children to foster hygiene knowledge and emotional resilience in preschool children: a randomized controlled trial. Front Pediatr. 2025 Apr 11;13:1514793. doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1514793. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40292121 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Stress, Psychological

Interventions

Educational Status

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics

Study Officials

• Philipp Steinbauer, Dr.

  Comprehensive Center For Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Intensive Care Medicine and Neuropediatrics

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2021
• First Posted: January 26, 2021
• Study Start: January 6, 2021
• Primary Completion: January 12, 2023
• Study Completion: January 12, 2023
• Last Updated: January 16, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP

Locations

AU (1)