CompletedNot Applicable

Let´s Talk About Children Intervention in a School Context

Finland100 participantsStarted 2021-09-27

Plain-language summary

The aim of this study is to examine the fidelity, the perceived benefits, and the effectiveness of the Let's Talk about Children (LTC) -intervention in a school context. The Let's Talk about Children method is a standardised, family-focused intervention aimed to build a shared understanding between parents, children, and teachers to find ways of working together to support the child's everyday life, well-being, learning, and development, both at home and at school. The Let's Talk about Children intervention is used in several different schools in Finland. The study examines the effects of the Let's Talk about Children method on the teacher-student relationship, the trust between teachers and parents and the students', teachers' and parents' well-being. Participants (N=1316 school-children, N=188 school-teachers and N=1316 parents) are recruited and divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group consists of teachers who use the Let's Talk about Children method in their work and those students and parents who participate in the Let's Talk about Children discussions. The control group includes teachers who do not use the method in their work and students and parents who do not participate in the discussions. The fidelity and perceived benefits of the method are examined in the intervention group. Otherwise, there is two data collection points. The data is collected in intervention and control groups before the intervention and 6 months after the intervention.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 8 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * First-grade students * Students' parents * First-grade teachers * Sufficient Finnish language skills Exclusion Criteria: \- Insufficient Finnish language skills

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial focused on teachers and parents — if my child was part of a school that ran this kind of program, how would I find out whether it actually improved my child's mental health or quality of life in any meaningful way?
2Since this study is already completed, is there published data my doctor or pediatrician could review to see whether the 'Let's Talk About Children' approach showed real benefits for kids' psychiatric symptoms or wellbeing?
3The trial measured things like teacher-student and teacher-parent relationships alongside children's burnout — could my child's school-based struggles actually be connected to those kinds of relationship dynamics, and should we be looking at school-based interventions rather than just clinical ones?
4Because this was a school-context intervention rather than a medical treatment, would my child's pediatrician or mental health provider be the right person to coordinate with our school about whether a similar program might help, or is that conversation better started with the school directly?
5Given that this trial measured child burnout and health-related quality of life together, what signs should I be watching for at home that would tell us whether my child's overall wellbeing is improving or getting worse while we figure out next steps?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in teacher and parent relationship

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in children's wellbeing: psychiatric symptoms

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in children's wellbeing: health-related quality of life

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in teacher and student relationship

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05038280

SponsorUniversity of Helsinki

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-01-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Children's Wellbeing trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 8 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * First-grade students * Students' parents * First-grade teachers * Sufficient Finnish language skills Exclusion Criteria: \- Insufficient Finnish language skills

What they're measuring

Change in teacher and parent relationship

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in children's wellbeing: psychiatric symptoms

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in children's wellbeing: health-related quality of life

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline

Change in teacher and student relationship

Timeframe: 6 months after baseline