None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Cool Kids - Taking Control is an online self-help program that is designed to help children who report been the target of bullying and who also report high levels of anxiety symptoms. The program is delivered over the internet and involves eight lessons for parents to work through with their child at home. As the child’s Coach, the parent role is to teach and support the child to learn how to use their new Cool Kids skills. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the CKTC online program to determine whether it is more effective in reducing bullying victimisation and anxiety in children compared to treatment-as-usual.
Interventions
This study is a randomised clinical trial with two conditions: Cool Kids - Taking Control (Treatment) and Treatment-as-Usual (Control). Eligible participants aged 7-12 years in the treatment group will gain immediate access to a 10-week online intervention based on the evidence-based Cool Kids program. Children and their participating parent/s will receive instruction on how to use the online platform and will be informed that they can log in to the program as many times as they like during the
This study is a randomised clinical trial with two conditions: Cool Kids - Taking Control (Treatment) and Treatment-as-Usual (Control). Eligible participants aged 7-12 years in the treatment group will gain immediate access to a 10-week online intervention based on the evidence-based Cool Kids program. Children and their participating parent/s will receive instruction on how to use the online platform and will be informed that they can log in to the program as many times as they like during the week. They are encouraged to work through all of the weekly session content in the week that it is assigned so that they are then ready to move on to the next session. Program content will be released to families on a weekly, incremental basis and families will be informed that they can access current and previous weeks content for the entire intervention period. Both child and parent session content is provided through the online program. The online program is interactive and is in the form of short videos with characters, voice-overs, wording (similar to a PowerPoint with sound) and downloadable handouts that assist in explaining and practising the session material. Weekly therapist support will be provided to the participating parent/s via brief (20 minute) scheduled telephone calls. This support will assist families in understanding program content, problem-solving and address any questions related to program material.
Sponsors
Macquarie University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
7 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
The sample will consist of children aged 7-12 years from across Australia, including from both regional and rural areas. Children will be included in the study if they report being bullied “three or more times” in the previous school term (10-weeks) and simultaneously meet the DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder as their primary, and therefore most interfering, disorder. Participants receiving pharmacological treatment will be included in the study if their medication has been stable for two months prior to the assessment and there are no foreseeable plans for a medication change before commencing treatment. Participants must be willing to provide informed consent (parent consent and child assent) and comply with the requirements of the study will be included. Anxiety diagnosis will be assessed using the ADIS-IV-C/P child and parent versions. This amended form of the ADIS-IV has already been provided to the ethics committee (Ref #: 5201100542). One primary caregiver will need to be involved in the study with their child. They will act in the role as 'coach' and will be responsible for completing measures pertaining to their child (as listed) and will participate in the weekly phone calls with the therapist. The measures are only related to the children in the study and therefore there are no inclusion criteria for parents, other than their willingness to be involved and to play the role as 'coach' over the course of the intervention. Families will be informed that they will need access to a computer or iPad/ tablet in order to access the program, and a telephone.
Exclusion criteria
We will exclude children if they are exhibiting life threatening suicidal ideation; considered to be at risk of harm due to abuse; have a significant intellectual impairment; have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder; have unmanaged psychotic symptoms; or are additionally receiving therapeutic treatment for victimisation and anxiety outside of school. Children excluded from the study will be referred to an appropriate health professional. We will exclude families that do not have access to an electronic device suitable for engaging with the Cool Kids - Taking Control Online program. They will also be excluded if they do not have access to a telephone or cannot commit to weekly 20 minute phone calls over the course of the intervention.
Outcome results
None listed