Virtual Self-Management Program (SMP)No Intervention
Virtual Self-Management Program (SMP): Four sessions, 60-90 minutes each, will be conducted over eight weeks with a group size of 4-6 participants via videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Each session will include Power Point delivered presentations, interactive activities, and group discussions. This is a multifaceted program that includes JIA disease education, self-management strategies, and peer support.
No Intervention: No intervention. Participant only receives standard of care.
Study summary
The aim of this project is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a virtual group based self-management program (SMP) in adolescents with JIA across different provinces compared to a wait-list control group receiving only standard of care.
Participants in the SMP group will partake in four 60-90 minute group sessions conducted over 8 weeks. The intervention is a multifaceted program that includes JIA disease education, self-management strategies, and peer support. Both the interventional and control group will be asked to complete baseline and post-test measures.
Participants in the control group will be offered the SMP after completion of the post-control outcome measures.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
12 Years
Max age
17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17
2. Confirmed diagnosis within 2 years according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology JIA classification criteria (2)
3. Followed in one of the pediatric rheumatology clinics participating in the RCT
4. Able to access the Internet on a computer
5. Willing and able to complete online measures
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Insufficient English reading and speaking skills
2. Untreated psychiatric or comorbid disorders or major cognitive impairments leading to inability to understand materials and participate in the SMP group activities.
3. Other chronic conditions such as other autoimmune disease, neurologic, orthopedics or other systems disorder (e.g. heart, kidney) that might influence outcome assessments
4. Past participation in the last year or participating in another peer-support or self-management program
Primary outcome measure(s)
Program Adherence Rates (feasability) — 3 months The primary objective is feasibility outcome that will be measured as adherence with the SMP Program. This is defined as Proportion of completed questionnaires (defined as 80% when all measures are completed) at baseline and 8 weeks post-randomization in both groups along with recruitment and withdrawal rates. (\>80% recruitment rate and \<80% withdrawal)
Satisfaction of Program — 3 months Satisfaction with the SMP as measured through a semi-structured virtual interview with the participants following involvement in the SMP to capture participants' experience.
Intervention fidelity — 3 months We are looking at consistent content and technology delivery. This will be assessed by i) Observational checklists ii) qualitative analysis of recorded video sessions after 2, 4 and at completion of all sessions by each facilitator to ensure sessions are consistently delivered and as planned.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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