Optimizing Health Among Children With Congenital Heart Defects
Condition: Congenital Heart Defects
MeSH terms: Heart Defects, Congenital
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Quality of life and heart health are intimately connected to childhood physical activity
      participation (PAP). Physical activity is critical to childhood growth, development,
      learning, socialization, and quality of life and is an essential component of life-long heart
      health. Research by the investigators of this study and others has shown that low PAP levels
      are common among children with heart defects, and that these sedentary lifestyles are not
      related to exercise capacity, medical status or heart function.
    

Detailed description: 
      Therefore, we hypothesize that psychosocial factors are important determinants of PAP in this
      population. Our most recent research with children who have univentricular heart indicates
      that gross motor skill and psychosocial factors are significant correlates of PAP. Important
      psychosocial factors include self-efficacy for activity, uncertainty about activity, and
      inaccurate perceptions of the child's PAP level, options, and abilities. This study seeks to
      determine whether gross motor skill and psychosocial factors influence PAP among children
      with a broad spectrum of cardiac defects. It will also determine the optimal changes to
      clinical care needed to encourage children with heart defects to develop health-related
      active lifestyles.

      We propose a prospective, randomized, cross-over preliminary clinical trial utilizing both
      quantitative and qualitative assessments. Through the cross-over design, each subject will
      complete both interventions (information, demonstration), with the order of intervention
      delivery randomly determined. Quantitative assessments will document moderate-to-vigorous
      physical activity (MVPA), gross motor skill, and health-related fitness. Qualitative
      assessments will evaluate parent/child anxiety about PAP and psychosocial factors influencing
      PAP. All factors will be assessed at each data collection point.
    

Intervention name(s): Information Intervention; Demonstration Intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The information intervention is designed to ensure that the parent(s) and child have a clear understanding of the range of physical activity opportunities that are appropriate and recommended for the child. The information intervention will be comprised of discussions and written information.; The demonstration intervention will be designed to demonstrate to the child and parent(s) specifically what the child is able to do in relation to fitness and motor skill activities. The demonstration intervention will consist of having the child complete a standardized exercise testing protocol on the treadmill, followed by discussions with the child and parent(s) to convey the results of the study testing of fitness and gross motor skill.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single (Care Provider)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Congenital; physical activity participation; Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity