Implementation of a Waitlist Intervention and Clinical Care Pathway for Families Awaiting at Eating Disorders Program

NCT04812899 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 13223
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in several challenges in service delivery for the eating disorders program at McMaster Children's Hospital. Long waiting lists prior to the pandemic (6-9 month wait time) have been made worse by an interruption in service during the initial stages of the pandemic. New routine assessments were placed on hold for many months, while only the most urgently ill children were seen. This, in combination with a dramatic increase in new referrals has resulted in a long waitlist. Now families are waiting 12-18 months for service. The resulting waitlist is now unmanageable and unsafe. Investigators wish to study the implementation of a waitlist intervention which will educate parents on how to start to renourish their children and interrupt eating disordered behaviors. The intervention will consist of a series of educational videos and a book on how to help their children. It is hoped that this intervention can lessen the need for hospitalization and can change the trajectory of symptoms while waiting for service. A clinical care pathway will also be developed to ensure those waiting receive the most appropriate treatment.

Conditions

Eating Disorders

Keywords

eating disorders; waitlist intervention; pandemic; children; clinical care pathway

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Weight trajectory

  Change in weight trajectory will be measured over the time period of 14 weeks, starting from the Baseline till the end of the study at 14 weeks

  Weight will be collected weekly (in kgs) for 14 weeks. (6 weeks pre intervention, 2 weeks during intervention and 6 weeks post intervention)

• Binge/purge episodes trajectory

  Change in trajectory of symptoms (number of binge/purge episodes) will be measured pre and post intervention.

  Number of binge/purge episodes will be collected weekly for 14 weeks. (6 weeks pre intervention, 2 weeks during intervention and 6 weeks post intervention)

• Length of wait time

  Average length of wait time pre and post implementation will be determined by examining wait time in the month prior to implementation for new referrals, compared to the average wait time for new referrals in the month following the completion of the study period

  At 14 weeks

• Change in number of parents who accepted to participate in the study

  In terms of recruitment, the investigators will examine the number of parents agree to participate versus the number of families invited to the study.

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

• Change in number of parents who remain in the study

  In terms of retention, the investigators will compare the number of parents completed the study to the number of parents enrolled.

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Eating Disorder Questionnaire -parent version

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

• Change in Parent Versus Eating Disorder Scale

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

• Change in Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder screen

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

• Change in Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

• Change in Carers Needs Assessment Measure

  Baseline and at 14 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Parents who have a child/adolescent with an eating disorder on waitlist

EXPERIMENTAL

Each participant will receive a series of pre-recorded videos and book -(10 videos of about 10 minutes each, along with the book "Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder"). This will include content on empowering parents to renourish their child and interrupt binge/purge behaviors.

Behavioral: Parental guided self-help version of FBT-pre-recorded videos and readings from the book

Interventions

Parental guided self-help version of FBT-pre-recorded videos and readings from the book BEHAVIORAL

Each participant will receive a series of pre-recorded videos of parental guided self help version FBT. There will be10 videos of about 10 minutes each. The videos will include content on empowering parents to renourish their child and interrupt binge/purge behaviors. Readings will be assigned to each participant from the book "Help Your Teenager Beat and Eating Disorder". There will be psychoeducational content on the dangers and medical complications of eating disorders. The readings will also contain content on coping skills for young people including relaxation, mindfulness strategies, and distress tolerance skills.

Parents who have a child/adolescent with an eating disorder on waitlist

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Parents of a child or adolescent (6-17 years) with an Eating Disorder.
• Have an access to the internet/computer.
• Have an access to a weigh scale in their home environment
• Have the capacity to write, speak and understand English

You may not qualify if:

• don't have the capacity to write, speak and understand English
• don't have access to the internet/computer
• don't have a child or adolescent with an eating disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McMaster University: lead

Study Sites (1)

McMaster Children's Hospital

Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Jennifer Couturier, MD

  McMaster University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 18, 2021
• First Posted: March 24, 2021
• Study Start: July 30, 2021
• Primary Completion: February 4, 2022
• Study Completion: February 4, 2022
• Last Updated: March 29, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)