Feasibility of the Implementation of the SPARKLe Nurse-led Integrated Transitional Care Model for Children With Complex Care Needs

NCT07801911 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SPARKLe_2024_Feasibility
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 6
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Children with complex care needs often experience fragmented care during transitions from hospital to home, leading to unmet needs and increased burden on families. The SPARKLe project aims to address this gap through a nurse-led integrated transitional care model. This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing the SPARKLe model in a real-world hospital setting using a mixed-methods design, focusing on implementation outcomes including feasibility, acceptability, adoption, and fidelity.

Conditions

Children With Complex Care Needs; Chronic Conditions; Care Coordination; Transitional Care

Keywords

SPARKLe; Children with complex care needs; Integrated Care; Tranisitional Care; Implementation; Care Coordination; Feasibility Study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility of the SPARKLe care model among community providers

  Feasibility of the SPARKLe care model from the perspective of community providers was assessed using four survey items adapted from the Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM), together with selected items informed by the Normalization Measure Development (NoMAD) instrument. NoMAD-informed items assessed coherence, cognitive participation, and collective action related to implementation and integration of the SPARKLe care model into routine practice. Survey items were rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

  Approximately 2-3 weeks after hospital discharge.

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Qualitative perceptions of feasibility of the SPARKLe care model

  During the 4-month feasibility evaluation period, with family caregiver interviews conducted approximately 2 weeks after hospital discharge.

• Acceptability of the SPARKLe care model among community providers

  Approximately 2-3 weeks after hospital discharge

• Qualitative perceptions of acceptability of the SPARKLe care model

  During the 4-month feasibility evaluation period, with family caregiver interviews conducted approximately 2 weeks after hospital discharge.

• Early adoption of the SPARKLe care model assessed through healthcare professional focus group interviews

  During the 4-month implementation period

• Proportion of SPARKLe intervention components implemented as intended

  From hospital admission through 48 hours after discharge

Study Arms (1)

SPARKLe intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive the SPARKLe nurse-led integrated transitional care model designed to improve coordination and continuity of care for children with complex care needs during the transition from hospital to home.

Behavioral: SPARKLe model

Interventions

SPARKLe model BEHAVIORAL

The SPARKLe model is a nurse-led integrated transitional care intervention for children with complex care needs. It includes key components such as early identification of eligible patients, structured needs assessment, active family engagement, standardized information transfer, and coordination of follow-up care across healthcare settings.

SPARKLe intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 0 Years - 16 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged 0 to 16 years with complex care needs
• Admitted to a general pediatric unit at the University Children's Hospital Zurich for more than 24 hours
• Families of eligible children willing to participate in study procedures
• Hospital healthcare professionals involved in the care of included children
• Community healthcare providers involved in post-discharge care of included children

You may not qualify if:

• Children receiving care within an already established specialized care program at the hospital (e.g., palliative care or oncology care programs) Families declining participation Hospital professionals not directly involved in the care of included children Community providers not involved in the child's post-discharge care

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Children's Hospital, Zurich: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Children's Hospital Zurich

Zurich, 8008, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Suzanne Dhaini, PhD, RN

  University Children's Hospital, Zurich

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a single-group feasibility study in which all participants receive the SPARKLe nurse-led integrated transitional care model. The study evaluates the implementation of the model in a real-world hospital setting without a comparison group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2026
• First Posted: September 3, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 31, 2024
• Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

CH (1)