Status:
We have completed two large scale randomized controlled trials with 330 teens in Canada and 300 teens with JIA in the United States. Both websites are publicly launched!
Principal Investigator: Stinson, J
Co-Investigator(s): Campillo, S, Dancey, P, Duffy, C, Ellsworth, J, Feldman, B, Fuss, S, Hetherington, R, Huber, A, Johnson, N, McGrath, P, Oen, K, Rosenberg, A, Spiegel, L, Tse, S, Tucker, L, Victor, C.
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); 2011-2014
Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common chronic childhood illness that is associated with physical (pain) and emotional (anxiety and depression) symptoms that can negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQL). An adolescent with JIA is expected to have greater involvement in self-management as they mature. However most adolescents do not receive comprehensive education about JIA and strategies to manage their disease. Internet interventions provide an innovative approach to improve the accessibility and acceptability of self-management programs for adolescents with chronic illness.
Objective: To demonstrate the effectiveness of the ‘Teens Taking Charge: Managing JIA Online’ Internet intervention in improving pain and HRQL as well as other health outcomes.
Design: A multi-centred randomized control trial with repeated measures.
Procedure: 294 English and French speaking adolescents (12 to 18 years of age) with JIA are being recruited from ten rheumatology clinics across Canada. Adolescents and one of their parents will complete baseline measures. Participants will then be randomized to either the experimental intervention (‘Teens Taking Charge’) or an attention control group. Participants in both groups will be called monthly over the three-month study period. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline and three, six, and 12 month follow-up periods.