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Family DynamicsDFGNCT04892992

Dialogical Family Guidance for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A study testing DFG in people with Family Dynamics, run by Diana Cavonius-Rintahaka.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Previous studies have highlighted the need to offer targeted effective interventions to strengthen the wellbeing of all family members in families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Interventions for this target group requires development and research. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 16 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Family Dynamics
What is being tested?
DFG
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
50 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
6 Jan 2016to 31 Dec 2018
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 5 to 16 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • clinical neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis (eg ADHD, ASD, tics, language disorders)
  • the child is aged between 4-16 years
  • parent have adequate Finnish language skills
  • parents are biological parents or step-parents of the child

Who cannot join

  • the child is under 4 or over 16 years old
  • parents do not have adequate Finnish language skills

About this study

Official title: Dialogical Family Guidance in Families With a Child With Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Previous studies have highlighted the need to offer targeted effective interventions to strengthen the wellbeing of all family members in families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Interventions for this target group requires development and research. A new family intervention, Dialogical Family Guidance (DFG) was tested in this study. All families received DFG intervention ( 6 meetings ).

Read the detailed description

Previous studies have highlighted the need to offer targeted effective interventions to strengthen the wellbeing of all family members in families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Interventions for this target group requires development and research. A new family intervention, Dialogical Family Guidance (DFG) was tested in this study.

Fifty families of children with NDD were randomized into two intervention groups. Intervention group I were delivered DFG immediately, and Intervention group II were delivered DFG after three months. Family functionality, health and support (FAFHES), SDQ and the 5-15-questionnaire and DFG parent questionnaires were used to collect data at baseline, after three and six months. Fifty families were invited to the study. Thirty-four families completed the study. A comparison were made between Intervention group I and II.

Conditions
Family Dynamics
Being tested
DFG
Keywords
Dialogical family guidance, family health, neurodevelopmental disorders
Medical subject headings
Neurodevelopmental Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DFGBehavioural

Study groups in NCT04892992
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intervention group IExperimental6 sessions of intervention DFG starting at once (baseline). After DFG treatment as usual at Helsinki University hospital. The change between before the intervention (baseline) and after the intervention (3 months later) is being assessed.
Receives: Behavioral: DFG
Intervention group IIExperimental6 sessions of intervention DFG starting 3 months after baseline (3 months on waiting list). Between baseline and 3 months waiting list families were getting treatment as usual at Helsinki University hospital. The change between baseline - after 3 months waiting list (3 months from baseline)/ before the intervention - and after intervention (6 months from baseline) is being assessed. Also the difference between Intervention group I and II is assessed.
Receives: Behavioral: DFG

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The Family Function, Health and Social Support - scale (FAFHES)

    The FAFHES questionnaire contains three sections; family functionality (19 items), family health (23 items), and family support provided by professionals (21 items). All the items are measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1-6 (I disagree totally, I disagree, I disagree somewhat, I agree somewhat, I agree, I agree totally). Family functionality, family health and family support were seen as poor if the median was 1.00-2.7, moderate if it was 2.8-4.5, and good if it was 4.6-6.0.45. Parent questionnaire. 1=I totally disagree.....6=I absolutely agree. Higher scores mean worse outcome.

    Measured: Baseline measure before DFG family intervention starts

  2. The Family Function, Health and Social Support Scale (FAFHES)

    The FAFHES questionnaire contains three sections; family functionality (19 items), family health (23 items), and family support provided by professionals (21 items). All the items are measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1-6 (I disagree totally, I disagree, I disagree somewhat, I agree somewhat, I agree, I agree totally). Family functionality, family health and family support were seen as poor if the median was 1.00-2.7, moderate if it was 2.8-4.5, and good if it was 4.6-6.0.45. Parent questionnaire. 1=I totally disagree.....6=I absolutely agree. Higher scores mean worse outcome.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline measure, when intervention is finished. Change is being assessed.

  3. The Family Function, Health and Social Support Scale (FAFHES)

    The FAFHES questionnaire contains three sections; family functionality (19 items), family health (23 items), and family support provided by professionals (21 items). All the items are measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1-6 (I disagree totally, I disagree, I disagree somewhat, I agree somewhat, I agree, I agree totally). Family functionality, family health and family support were seen as poor if the median was 1.00-2.7, moderate if it was 2.8-4.5, and good if it was 4.6-6.0.45. Parent questionnaire. 1=I totally disagree.....6=I absolutely agree. Higher scores mean worse outcome.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline follow up. Change is being assessed.

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. The Dialogical Family Guidance (DFG) - questionnaire

    The DFG-questionnaire was developed for this study to obtain information and parents' experiences about the DFG family intervention. The questionnaire include 14 items. Questions about the content and recommendation of DFG sessions were for example: "Did you get practical tips for daily life?" (1= yes absolutely….5=not at all) and "Would you recommend DFG to other parents?" (1=yes absolutely….4=no). The following semi-structured open-ended question was included in the DFG-questionnaire: Could you describe your experiences, comments or/and ideas about how to improve DFG? Parents filled the questionnaire after completing the DFG process (six meetings). Most questions were opinions about DFG, but when questions about "Did you get help from DFG?" 1=very much.... 5=not at all

    Measured: 3 months after baseline measure, when intervention is finished.

  2. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

    SDQ measures the changes in child's behavior. 25 items with 3-point likert scale; Not true (0)- Somewhat true (1) - Certainly true (2). Parent questionnaire. Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child with neurodevelopmental disorder.Highest scores 50 - lowest 0. Total score16-40 = high risk for abnormalities.

    Measured: Baseline measure before DFG family intervention starts

  3. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

    SDQ measures the changes in child's behavior. 25 items with 3-point likert scale; Not true (0)- Somewhat true (1) - Certainly true (2). Parent questionnaire. Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child with neurodevelopmental disorder.Highest scores 50 - lowest 0. Total score16-40 = high risk for abnormalities.

    Measured: 3 months after baseline measure, when intervention is finished. Change is being assessed.

  4. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

    SDQ measures the changes in child's behavior. 25 items with 3-point likert scale; Not true (0)- Somewhat true (1) - Certainly true (2). Parent questionnaire. Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child with neurodevelopmental disorder.Highest scores 50 - lowest 0. Total score16-40 = high risk for abnormalities.

    Measured: 6 months after baseline follow up. Change is being assessed.

  5. Parent Questionnaire for Evaluation of Development and Behaviour in 5-15-year old Children, 5-15 (FTF, Five - to - Fifteen)

    Parent Questionnaire for evaluation of development and behaviour in 5-15-year old children. 181 items. Three point likert scale; Not true (0) - Somewhat true (1)- Certainly true (2). Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child. 0-13 scores normal and 17-40 scores mean abnormal result/abnormal

    Measured: Baseline measure before DFG family intervention starts

  6. Parent Questionnaire for Evaluation of Development and Behaviour in 5-15-year old Children, 5-15 (FTF, Five - to - Fifteen)

    Parent Questionnaire for evaluation of development and behaviour in 5-15-year old children. 181 items. Three point likert scale; Not true (0) - Somewhat true (1)- Certainly true (2). Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child. 0-13 scores normal and 17-40 scores mean abnormal result/abnormal

    Measured: 3 months after baseline measure, when intervention is finished. Change is being assessed.

  7. Parent Questionnaire for Evaluation of Development and Behaviour in 5-15-year old Children, 5-15 (FTF, Five - to - Fifteen)

    Parent Questionnaire for evaluation of development and behaviour in 5-15-year old children. 181 items. Three point likert scale; Not true (0) - Somewhat true (1)- Certainly true (2). Higher scores mean worse outcome considering the child. 0-13 scores normal and 17-40 scores mean abnormal result/abnormal

    Measured: 6 months after baseline follow up. Change is being assessed.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 May 2021
  2. Study start6 Jan 2016
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2018
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Intervention group I were delivered DFG immediately and Intervention group II were delivered DFG after three months.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
50 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04892992
Sponsor's protocol ID
106/13/03/03/2012
Acronym
DFG
Status last verified
May 2021
First submitted
7 May 2021
Last updated
19 May 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Cavonius-Rintahaka D, Roos M, Aho AL. The effectiveness of a dialogical family guidance intervention regarding child treatment response in families with a child with neurodevelopmental disorders. BMC Psychol. 2024 Apr 5;12(1):189. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01706-9.

    PubMed 38580992

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DFG in people with Family Dynamics, run by Diana Cavonius-Rintahaka.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 May 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The Family Function, Health and Social Support - scale (FAFHES) (time frame: Baseline measure before DFG family intervention starts). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04892992, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 May 2021.

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