The iPeer2Peer Program for Adolescents With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The iPeer2Peer program matches teens with arthritis to an older mentor who has learned to manage their arthritis well and can support them emotionally and socially. This study will compare two groups of teens: those who are in the iPeer2Peer Program and those in the control group (no mentor).

Detailed Description
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Arthritis is a common childhood illness that makes everyday activities hard for young people. It is a long-lasting illness that can make you feel pain, tired and emotionally upset. This can make it hard for children and teens to see friends and do the activities that they like. The goal of this project is to find out if the newly developed peer mentoring program called iPeer2Peer helps teens with arthritis take better care of their illness and feel more connected to other people with arthritis. The iPeer2Peer program matches teens with arthritis to an older mentor who has learned to manage their arthritis well and can support them emotionally and socially. This study will compare two groups of teens: those who are in the iPeer2Peer Program and those in the control group (no mentor).

Official Title
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The iPeer2Peer Program for Adolescents With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: iPeer2Peer Mentorship
* Other: Active Comparator: Control Group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: males and females 12-18 years old rheumatologist-diagnosed JIA according to ILAR criteria able to speak and read English access to a computer, smartphone or tablet capable of using free Skype software (note: participants who do not have adequate Internet access will be provided with portable Internet sticks) willing and able to complete online measures. Exclusion Criteria: significant cognitive impairments major co-morbid illnesses (medical or psychiatric conditions) likely to influence HRQL assessment participating in other peer support or self-management interventions.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 12 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: iPeer2Peer Mentorship<br>In addition to standard care, youth in the experimental group will receive the iPeer2Peer program, a peer mentorship program that will provide modeling and reinforcement of self-management by pre-screened and trained peer mentors (young adults with JIA aged 18-22 years who have learned to function successfully with their disease). Mentors will encourage participants to develop and engage in self-management skills and provide social support. | Behavioral: iPeer2Peer Mentorship<br>* 10 sessions of 20-30 minute Skype calls conducted over 5-12 weeks.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control Group<br>The control group will receive standard care but without the iPeer2Peer program. | Other: Active Comparator: Control Group<br>* The control group will receive standard care but without the iPeer2Peer program.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TRANSITION-Q (measuring change) | 14-item measure of self-management skills that is both reliable (internally consistent, test-retest) and valid (face, construct and content validity) | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PedsQL Arthritis Module (measuring change) | Health-related quality of life | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| PROMIS Pain Interference (measuring change) | Pain | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (measuring change) | Emotional distress | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (measuring change) | Emotional distress | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Medical Issues, Exercise, Pain and Social Support Questionnaire (measuring change) | Disease knowledge | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Children's Arthritis Self-Efficacy (measuring change) | Self-efficacy | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| PROMIS Pediatric Peer Relationship Scale (measuring change) | Perceived social support | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| AQoL-6D, interview (measuring change) | Cost utility analysis | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Health service use and costs (measuring change) | Cost utility analysis | Baseline; Immediately following interview (approximately 12 weeks after baseline); 6-months post | 
| Mentor Behavior Scale (measuring change) | Mentor quality | Post-Intervention (approximately following 12 weeks of calls) | 
| PROMIS Adult Profile (measuring change) | For mentors only: mentor physical and emotional symptoms | At beginning of study and at end of study (approximately 3 years later) | 
| PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (measuring change) | For mentors only: perceived social role satisfaction | At beginning of study and at end of study (approximately 3 years later) | 
| Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (measuring change) | For mentors only: self-efficacy | At beginning of study and at end of study (approximately 3 years later) | 
| Mentor interaction form | Record of interactions with mentees | Following completion of each mentee's calls (approximately following 12 weeks of calls) |