Autism Spectrum DisorderCOPE-ASDNCT07722949
Feasibility of a Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention for Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
A study testing Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention and Routine Hospital Care in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Psychological Distress, run by Khyber Medical University Peshawar at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a culturally adapted, nurse-led Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) intervention to improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Pakistan. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Psychological Distress, Depression
- What is being tested?
- Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention and Routine Hospital Care
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 77 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Jul 2026to 25 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male or female primary caregivers aged 18 years or older.
- Primary caregiver of a child with a confirmed diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Able to communicate in Urdu.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Available to attend all intervention sessions and follow-up assessments.
Who cannot join
- Caregivers currently participating in another structured psychosocial, behavioral, or parenting intervention.
- Caregivers with a diagnosed severe psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that would interfere with participation.
- Caregivers unable to communicate effectively in Urdu.
- Caregivers who decline or are unable to provide informed consent.
- Caregivers who are unavailable to complete the intervention or follow-up assessments.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Children Hospital Complex and Institute of Child Health
Faisalābad, Punjab Province, 38000
Zeenaf Aslam, RN,MSN,PhD*, +92 332 6613345, zeenafch@gmail.com
Dr Syed Muhammad Shabbir Ali Naqvi, PhD*, +923460113227, coordinator.ctu@kmu.edu.pk
About this study
Official title: Feasibility of Culturally Adapted, Nurse-Led COPE Intervention on Psychological Wellbeing of Primary Caregivers of Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD)
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a culturally adapted, nurse-led Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) intervention to improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Pakistan. The study will use an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design comprising a qualitative needs assessment followed by a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial. Qualitative interviews will identify caregivers' training needs and inform the cultural adaptation of the COPE intervention. Eligible caregivers will then be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the culturally adapted COPE program in addition to routine care or a control group receiving routine care alone. The intervention consists of four weekly nurse-led sessions focusing on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional regulation, and family resilience. Psychological wellbeing will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) at baseline and one month after the intervention. The study will also evaluate recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, acceptability, and implementation feasibility to inform the design of a future definitive randomized controlled trial.
Read the detailed description
Parents and primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience substantial psychological distress due to the long-term demands of caregiving, including elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. In Pakistan, limited access to structured caregiver support programs, inadequate mental health services, financial constraints, and social stigma further increase caregiver burden. Although previous parent-mediated interventions conducted in Pakistan have demonstrated benefits for child developmental outcomes, few have specifically addressed the psychological wellbeing of caregivers. The Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) program is an evidence-based, nurse-led psychoeducational intervention designed to improve parental coping, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and confidence through cognitive-behavioral strategies and structured education. This study seeks to culturally adapt the COPE intervention to ensure its relevance and acceptability within the Pakistani context.
The study will employ an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In the first phase, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with primary caregivers of children with ASD to identify their educational and psychosocial support needs. Findings from the thematic analysis will be used to culturally adapt the COPE intervention. In the second phase, a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial will be conducted in which eligible caregivers will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE program in addition to routine hospital care or a control group receiving routine hospital care alone. The intervention will comprise four weekly sessions of approximately 45 minutes each, covering understanding ASD, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional support, and long-term family resilience.
Baseline and one-month follow-up assessments will be conducted using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to evaluate changes in depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition to clinical outcomes, the study will assess feasibility indicators including participant recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, acceptability, and implementation. Qualitative data will be analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach, while quantitative data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings will provide essential evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention and will inform the planning of a fully powered randomized controlled trial aimed at improving the psychological wellbeing of caregivers of children with ASD in Pakistan.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention, Routine Hospital Care
- Keywords
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Caregivers, Psychological Wellbeing, Feasibility Trial, Randomized controlled trial
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE InterventionBehavioural
Also called Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE), COPE Program Culturally Adapted, COPE
The intervention is a culturally adapted, nurse-led behavioral and psychoeducational program based on the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) framework. It is designed to improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by enhancing coping skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving abilities, and parenting confidence. The intervention comprises four weekly sessions of approximately 45 minutes each and includes education about ASD, cognitive restructuring, stress management, positive parenting strategies, guided problem-solving, and development of long-term coping and family resilience. The program is delivered by trained nurses using standardized educational materials, including presentations, audiovisual aids, and printed booklets.
Routine Hospital CareOther
Participants receive the standard care routinely provided by the hospital for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. No components of the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention are provided during the study period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention | Experimental | Participants randomized to the experimental arm will receive a culturally adapted, nurse-led Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) intervention in addition to routine hospital care. The intervention consists of four weekly sessions (approximately 45 minutes each) delivered over four weeks by trained nurses. The sessions include psychoeducation about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional regulation, stress management, and long-term family resilience. Educational materials, including audio-visual aids and printed booklets, will be used to facilitate the intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention |
| Routine Care | Other | Participants randomized to the control arm will receive routine hospital care only. They will not receive the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention during the study period. Psychological wellbeing will be assessed at the same time points as the intervention group using the study outcome measures. Receives: Other: Routine Hospital Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Depression Score
Change in depression score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale. The depression subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in depression score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups.
Measured: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Anxiety
Change in anxiety score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Anxiety subscale. The anxiety subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in anxiety score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups
Measured: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Stress
Change in stress score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Stress subscale. The stress subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater stress symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in stress score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups.
Measured: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jul 2026
- Study start15 Jul 2026
- Primary completion30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion25 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Participants will be randomly assigned to either a culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention group or a routine care control group. Outcomes will be compared between the two parallel groups following completion of the intervention and follow-up assessment.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Khyber Medical University Peshawar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Children Hospital Faisalabad
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Zeenaf Aslam, RN, MSN,PHD*, Principal investigator, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber Medical University PeshawarDr Dildar Muhammad, PhD, Principal investigator, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber Medical University Peshawar
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07722949
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KMU/DIR/CTU/2026/07
- Acronym
- COPE-ASD
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) underlying the results reported in publications, including demographic characteristics, baseline data, intervention adherence, and outcome data (DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores), will be made available to qualified researchers. Data will be shared after publication of the primary study results and following approval of a methodologically sound research proposal. All shared datasets will be fully de-identified to protect participant confidentiality and will comply with institutional ethical requirements and applicable data protection regulations.
Publications
Rahman A, Divan G, Hamdani SU, Vajaratkar V, Taylor C, Leadbitter K, Aldred C, Minhas A, Cardozo P, Emsley R, Patel V, Green J. Effectiveness of the parent-mediated intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in south Asia in India and Pakistan (PASS): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Feb;3(2):128-36. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00388-0. Epub 2015 Dec 17.
PubMed 26704571Ronk FR, Korman JR, Hooke GR, Page AC. Assessing clinical significance of treatment outcomes using the DASS-21. Psychol Assess. 2013 Dec;25(4):1103-10. doi: 10.1037/a0033100. Epub 2013 Jun 3.
PubMed 23730826Alibekova R, Kai Chan C, Crape B, Kadyrzhanuly K, Gusmanov A, An S, Bulekbayeva S, Akhmetzhanova Z, Ainabekova A, Yerubayev Z, Yessimkulova F, Bekisheva A, Ospanova Z, Rakhimova M. Stress, anxiety and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders in Kazakhstan: prevalence and associated factors. Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2022 Oct 11;9:472-482. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2022.51. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 36618742Zeidan J, Fombonne E, Scorah J, Ibrahim A, Durkin MS, Saxena S, Yusuf A, Shih A, Elsabbagh M. Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism Res. 2022 May;15(5):778-790. doi: 10.1002/aur.2696. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
PubMed 35238171Batool SS, Khurshid S. Factors Associated with Stress Among Parents of Children with Autism. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2015 Oct;25(10):752-6. doi: 10.2015/JCPSP.752756.
PubMed 26454393Alghamdi K, Alahmadi S, Sayedahmad A, Mosleh H. Psychological Well-Being of Mothers of Children With Autism in Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2022 Mar 18;14(3):e23284. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23284. eCollection 2022 Mar.
PubMed 35449665
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Feasibility of Culturally Adapted, Nurse-Led COPE Intervention on Psychological Wellbeing of Primary Caregivers of Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07722949
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- COPE-ASD / KMU/DIR/CTU/2026/07
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety
- Keywords
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Caregivers, Psychological Wellbeing, Feasibility Trial, Randomized controlled trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Khyber Medical University PeshawarUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Children Hospital Faisalabad
- Study start
- 15 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 25 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a culturally adapted, nurse-led Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) intervention to improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Pakistan. The study will use an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design comprising a qualitative needs assessment followed by a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial. Qualitative interviews will identify caregivers' training needs and inform the cultural adaptation of the COPE intervention. Eligible caregivers will then be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the culturally adapted COPE program in addition to routine care or a control group receiving routine care alone. The intervention consists of four weekly nurse-led sessions focusing on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional regulation, and family resilience. Psychological wellbeing will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) at baseline and one month after the intervention. The study will also evaluate recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, acceptability, and implementation feasibility to inform the design of a future definitive randomized controlled trial.
Detailed description
Parents and primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience substantial psychological distress due to the long-term demands of caregiving, including elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. In Pakistan, limited access to structured caregiver support programs, inadequate mental health services, financial constraints, and social stigma further increase caregiver burden. Although previous parent-mediated interventions conducted in Pakistan have demonstrated benefits for child developmental outcomes, few have specifically addressed the psychological wellbeing of caregivers. The Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) program is an evidence-based, nurse-led psychoeducational intervention designed to improve parental coping, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and confidence through cognitive-behavioral strategies and structured education. This study seeks to culturally adapt the COPE intervention to ensure its relevance and acceptability within the Pakistani context.
The study will employ an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In the first phase, qualitative semi-structured interviews will be conducted with primary caregivers of children with ASD to identify their educational and psychosocial support needs. Findings from the thematic analysis will be used to culturally adapt the COPE intervention. In the second phase, a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial will be conducted in which eligible caregivers will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE program in addition to routine hospital care or a control group receiving routine hospital care alone. The intervention will comprise four weekly sessions of approximately 45 minutes each, covering understanding ASD, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional support, and long-term family resilience.
Baseline and one-month follow-up assessments will be conducted using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to evaluate changes in depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition to clinical outcomes, the study will assess feasibility indicators including participant recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, acceptability, and implementation. Qualitative data will be analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach, while quantitative data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings will provide essential evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention and will inform the planning of a fully powered randomized controlled trial aimed at improving the psychological wellbeing of caregivers of children with ASD in Pakistan.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to either a culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention group or a routine care control group. Outcomes will be compared between the two parallel groups following completion of the intervention and follow-up assessment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE InterventionParticipants randomized to the experimental arm will receive a culturally adapted, nurse-led Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) intervention in addition to routine hospital care. The intervention consists of four weekly sessions (approximately 45 minutes each) delivered over four weeks by trained nurses. The sessions include psychoeducation about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, positive parenting, emotional regulation, stress management, and long-term family resilience. Educational materials, including audio-visual aids and printed booklets, will be used to facilitate the intervention. |
| Routine Care | Other | Other: Routine Hospital CareParticipants randomized to the control arm will receive routine hospital care only. They will not receive the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention during the study period. Psychological wellbeing will be assessed at the same time points as the intervention group using the study outcome measures. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male or female primary caregivers aged 18 years or older.
- Primary caregiver of a child with a confirmed diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Able to communicate in Urdu.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Available to attend all intervention sessions and follow-up assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Caregivers currently participating in another structured psychosocial, behavioral, or parenting intervention.
- Caregivers with a diagnosed severe psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that would interfere with participation.
- Caregivers unable to communicate effectively in Urdu.
- Caregivers who decline or are unable to provide informed consent.
- Caregivers who are unavailable to complete the intervention or follow-up assessments.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE InterventionAlso: Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE), COPE Program Culturally Adapted, COPEThe intervention is a culturally adapted, nurse-led behavioral and psychoeducational program based on the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) framework. It is designed to improve the psychological wellbeing of primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by enhancing coping skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving abilities, and parenting confidence. The intervention comprises four weekly sessions of approximately 45 minutes each and includes education about ASD, cognitive restructuring, stress management, positive parenting strategies, guided problem-solving, and development of long-term coping and family resilience. The program is delivered by trained nurses using standardized educational materials, including presentations, audiovisual aids, and printed booklets. | Behavioural | Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention |
| Routine Hospital CareParticipants receive the standard care routinely provided by the hospital for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. No components of the culturally adapted nurse-led COPE intervention are provided during the study period. | Other | Routine Care |
Primary outcome
Change in Depression Score
Time frame: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Change in depression score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Depression subscale. The depression subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in depression score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups.
Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Change in anxiety score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Anxiety subscale. The anxiety subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in anxiety score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups
Stress
Time frame: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Change in stress score measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Stress subscale. The stress subscale consists of 7 items, each scored from 0 (Did not apply to me at all) to 3 (Applied to me very much or most of the time). The summed subscale score is multiplied by 2, yielding a final score ranging from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater stress symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in stress score from baseline to one-month follow-up between the intervention and control groups.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 26704571Rahman A, Divan G, Hamdani SU, Vajaratkar V, Taylor C, Leadbitter K, Aldred C, Minhas A, Cardozo P, Emsley R, Patel V, Green J. Effectiveness of the parent-mediated intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in south Asia in India and Pakistan (PASS): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Feb;3(2):128-36. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00388-0. Epub 2015 Dec 17.
- Background: PubMed 23730826Ronk FR, Korman JR, Hooke GR, Page AC. Assessing clinical significance of treatment outcomes using the DASS-21. Psychol Assess. 2013 Dec;25(4):1103-10. doi: 10.1037/a0033100. Epub 2013 Jun 3.
- Background: PubMed 36618742Alibekova R, Kai Chan C, Crape B, Kadyrzhanuly K, Gusmanov A, An S, Bulekbayeva S, Akhmetzhanova Z, Ainabekova A, Yerubayev Z, Yessimkulova F, Bekisheva A, Ospanova Z, Rakhimova M. Stress, anxiety and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders in Kazakhstan: prevalence and associated factors. Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2022 Oct 11;9:472-482. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2022.51. eCollection 2022.
- Background: PubMed 35238171Zeidan J, Fombonne E, Scorah J, Ibrahim A, Durkin MS, Saxena S, Yusuf A, Shih A, Elsabbagh M. Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism Res. 2022 May;15(5):778-790. doi: 10.1002/aur.2696. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
- Background: PubMed 26454393Batool SS, Khurshid S. Factors Associated with Stress Among Parents of Children with Autism. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2015 Oct;25(10):752-6. doi: 10.2015/JCPSP.752756.
- Background: PubMed 35449665Alghamdi K, Alahmadi S, Sayedahmad A, Mosleh H. Psychological Well-Being of Mothers of Children With Autism in Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2022 Mar 18;14(3):e23284. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23284. eCollection 2022 Mar.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) underlying the results reported in publications, including demographic characteristics, baseline data, intervention adherence, and outcome data (DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores), will be made available to qualified researchers. Data will be shared after publication of the primary study results and following approval of a methodologically sound research proposal. All shared datasets will be fully de-identified to protect participant confidentiality and will comply with institutional ethical requirements and applicable data protection regulations.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Zeenaf Aslam, RN, MSN,PHD* principal investigator
Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber Medical University Peshawar
Dr Dildar Muhammad, PhD principal investigator
Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber Medical University Peshawar
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Culturally Adapted Nurse-Led COPE Intervention and Routine Hospital Care in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Psychological Distress, run by Khyber Medical University Peshawar at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 5 inclusion and 5 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Zeenaf Aslam, RN, MSN,PHD* (+92 332 6613345, zeenafch@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Depression Score (time frame: Baseline and 1 month after completion of the intervention.). 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 NCT07722949, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 23 Jul 2026.