Family-centred E-health in Pediatric Weight Management: A Pilot Study

McMaster University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pediatric Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Monitoring device in PHR; Other: PHR; Device: Physical activity and sleep monitor; Behavioral: Communication through PHR outside clinic

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01912183

CEH - 126534

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a pilot study to examine the feasibility of implementing an objective physical activity and sleep monitoring tool into a pediatric weight management program in conjunction with a personal health record (PHR) for children and their families. This feasibility study is intended to provide proof of concept in the incorporation of monitoring devices within the PHR for pediatric patients and their families. Additionally, the investigators will examine whether the PHR helps to empower pediatric patients, their families and the health care team to more effectively monitor the patient's behavior change. Participants will be randomized to receive, or not receive, augmented communication with the health care team between clinical in person visits.

Full description

Lifestyle behaviour changes represent the foundation of pediatric weight management and are usually promoted through individual and/or group-based counseling to encourage the adoption and maintenance of health lifestyle behaviours including nutritional intake, sleep and physical activity. Consensus on the need for comprehensive, behavioural interventions exists, but the nature of these interventions vary considerably. The intensity of the intervention (i.e. number of contact hours) may be a key determinant of efficacy, but little detail on the characteristic of these contact hours for optimal delivery is currently available.

In this proof of concept study, we will evaluate the enhancement of behavioural change strategies utilizing technology that provides direct feedback on behaviour change. These devices will be incorporated into a PHR and supplemented with a related e-learning module.

This study will examine the feasibility and perceived usefulness of incorporation of a personal electronic device to encourage behaviour change in children and youth enrolled in a weight management program. We intend to incorporate this device within an established PHR and supplement with evidence-based e-learning.

This is a prospective, randomized pilot study of children and youth (ages 5-17 years) enrolled in a multidisciplinary pediatric weight management program (at McMaster Children's Hospital) for 4 months. This pilot study will include 10 children/youth and parent dyads from each of 3 age groups: 5-9 years, 10-13 years and 14-17 years. All families will utilize a personal electronic device that they can utilize with the individualized PHR. Participants will be randomized to receive, or not receive, regular communication with and access to the clinical team outside of their routine clinical visits, this will occur through a secure portal in the PHR.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• children/youth between the ages of 5-17 years
• enrolled in pediatric weight management program at McMaster Children's Hospital
• provide informed written assent (child/youth)
• provision of informed written consent (parent/caregiver)

Exclusion criteria

• no access to internet/home computer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Monitoring device in PHR

Active Comparator group

Description:

Both groups will receive routine clinical care in the pediatric weight management program at McMaster Children's Hospital. Children/youth in both groups will receive a physical activity and sleep monitor and access to their PHR. The Active Comparator group will not receive any feedback or communication outside of clinic visits from the clinical team regarding their goal progress.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Monitoring device in PHR

Other: PHR

Device: Physical activity and sleep monitor

Communication through PHR outside clinic

Experimental group

Description:

Both groups will receive routine clinical care in the pediatric weight management program at McMaster Children's Hospital. Children/youth in both groups will receive a physical activity and sleep monitor and access to their PHR. The experimental group will receive regular communication with /access to the clinical team through a secure portal within the PHR(i.e. 2 way communication, weekly feedback to the families on their goal progress).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Communication through PHR outside clinic

Other: PHR

Device: Physical activity and sleep monitor