Parenting Training for Children With FASD
Condition: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
MeSH terms: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to a myriad of adverse developmental outcomes in children,
      and is the leading cause of mental disability in Canada. The term fetal alcohol spectrum
      disorders (FASD) was established to encompass the full spectrum of teratogenic effects
      induced by alcohol. FAS is believed to occur in approximately 1 to 3 per 1000 live births in
      North America, and it is estimated that FASD may occur as frequently as 1 in 100 live births,
      making this a public health problem of epidemic proportion. Even though considerable efforts
      have been aimed at identifying children with FASD, the need for access to services and
      supports for Canadian families affected by FASD remains unfulfilled. Additionally, there is
      little empirical data available to influence policy change in how these services and supports
      are delivered.

      A key recommendation contained in the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Fetal Alcohol
      Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A Framework for Action document was the need to determine the types
      of supports children with FASD and their families require and to develop appropriate
      mechanisms to provide these services at the community, provincial/territorial and federal
      levels. This identified need forms the basis of the current proposal.

      Although a variety of psychosocial interventions have been developed to treat
      neurobehavioural disorders, relatively little research has been conducted that is
      specifically aimed at improving the behavioral challenges identified in children with FASD.
      Thus, we hypothesize that (i) a FASD-specific parent/guardian training intervention can be
      developed using input from major stakeholders to meet the current limitations in access for
      families seeking services and supports; and (ii) this intervention and its evaluation will
      provide evidence for feasibility and efficacy to support changes in policy by key
      decision-makers and provide the basis for developing promising practices in the area of
      interventions for families affected by FASD. This grant will link academic teams with
      parents/guardians and decision makers to develop and evaluate a training program for the
      parents/guardians of children with FASD.

      Participants will be recruited from across Canada. The specific objectives of the proposed
      research program, which will be addressed in three inter-related studies, are to:

        1. Develop an Internet-based intervention program for parents/guardians of children with
           FASD between the ages of 4-12 years, that is based on information collected from
           interviews completed by major stakeholders (e.g., parents/guardians, clinicians,
           decision-makers, community-based organizations);

        2. Evaluate the feasibility (usability) of the intervention; and

        3. Obtain data on outcomes from the randomized controlled trial This research will adopt an
           integrated knowledge translation and exchange approach where knowledge production,
           dissemination, uptake and usage will occur seamlessly throughout the project and
           researchers and knowledge users are engaged in the project right from its inception.

      The intervention will be based on the Strongest Families program that is designed to help
      families learn to deal with common childhood problems in the comfort and privacy of their
      home, and provide treatment and care via telephone contact with trained coaches, written
      manuals, videotapes, and audiotapes. This program has been successful in children
      neurodevelopmental disorders; and will be adapted for use in the FASD population, as children
      with FASD, share many of the same behavioral characteristics.
    


Intervention name(s): Strongest Families FASD intervention; Psychoeducation
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: FASD; pFAS; ARND; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder; Static Encephalopathy (Alcohol Exposed); Neurobehavioural Disorder (Alcohol Exposed)