CompletedNot Applicable

Implementing Virtual Parent Support Groups for Eating Disorders Across Canada

Canada120 participantsStarted 2022-05-01

Plain-language summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has experienced a surge in new pediatric eating disorder cases and hospitalizations and long treatment waitlists, with parents experiencing anxiety due to a lack of support. As it has not been rigorously studied, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, youth, and families living with eating disorders across Canada. The investigator's proposed research has two goals. First, the investigators plan to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic faced by this population throughout the country, as well as describe stakeholder views on virtual parent-led peer support groups. Given the increased burden faced by parents of children with eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, the second goal is to study whether the national implementation of virtual parent-led peer support groups helps to mitigate the impact of the pandemic among affected parents. The investigators will use qualitative semi-structured interviews to gather an understanding of the impact of the pandemic on relevant stakeholders across the country. At the same time, the investigators will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the implementation of virtual parent-led peer support groups in several regions of Canada by examining parent and parent peer support provider experiences.

Who can participate

Age range12 Years – 100 Years

SexALL

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: * Have the capacity to write, speak and understand English * Have access to a computer and internet * Among parents enrolled in the virtual parent-led peer support groups, they must have a child or adolescent (\<18 years of age) diagnosed with an eating disorder * Among youth and parents of youth with an eating disorder in the qualitative interviews component of the study, they/their child must either be on a waiting list for eating disorder treatment, actively in treatment, or post-treatment; the youth must be \<18 years of age and the parent must have a child \<18 years of age * Among clinician/administrators in the qualitative interviews component of the study, they must work within pediatric eating disorder programs or lifespan eating disorder programs. Exclusion Criteria: * No lived or professional experience in the field of eating disorders * Don't have the capacity to write, speak and understand English * Don't have access to the internet/computer

What they're measuring

Parent, youth, clinician, and administrator perspectives on and experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and children, youth, and families with eating disorders

Timeframe: Baseline to 6 months later

Parent, youth, clinician, and administrator perspectives on virtual parent-led peer support groups to help mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on children, youth, and families with eating disorders across Canada

Timeframe: Baseline to 6 months later

Parent, youth, clinician, and administrator perspectives on factors important for implementing and sustaining virtual parent-led peer support groups

Timeframe: Baseline to 6 months later

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05151900

SponsorMcMaster University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-03-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Eating Disorders trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range12 Years – 100 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

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

What they're measuring

Parent, youth, clinician, and administrator perspectives on and experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and children, youth, and families with eating disorders

Timeframe: Baseline to 6 months later

Parent, youth, clinician, and administrator perspectives on factors important for implementing and sustaining virtual parent-led peer support groups

Timeframe: Baseline to 6 months later