Efficacy of Training Programme to Reduce Stress

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to reduce stress in mothers of children with autism in Saudi Arabia. The researcher has designed a training programme for mothers whose children are young and just in their early stage at the autism organisations they are attending. The programme will include stress reduction tips, behavioural modification strategies for children with autism, and financial resources available to parents (how they can access government funding). The study will have two parts. Part one involves conducting an experiment by dividing the participants into two groups, one group will receive the training and the other group will wait until the end of the study then they will also receive the same training. Both groups will fill questionnaire at the beginning of the study, then after the first group finishes training, and then again 6 weeks later. Part two of the study will involve interviewing mothers of the first group who attended the training session. They will be interviewed by the researcher asking them about their experience with the training programme and their suggestions for future improvements. Mothers will be given a training manual at the beginning of the training. Training involves attending five sessions, one of which is a face to face session at the autism organisation their children are attending and the other four sessions will be through a Smartphone application called whatsapp which is widely used in Saudi Arabia.

Official Title
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Evaluating the Efficacy of a Proposed Training Programme to Reduce Stress in Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Study

Conditions
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Training to Reduce Stress in Mothers of Children with (ASD)
* Other: Nothing (treatment as usual)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Mothers aged 18 years or over mothers of ASD children who are in the early intervention stage (first year in the programme) at autism organizations in Saudi Arabia Exclusion Criteria: Mothers whose children with ASD are not in the early intervention stage or did not joint autism organization Mothers who will not be willing to commence to the full duration of the trial Mothers who will not be able to use whatsapp in their smart phones

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

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

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: intervention group<br>intervention group will receive the Training to Reduce Stress in Mothers of Children with (ASD) | Behavioral: Training to Reduce Stress in Mothers of Children with (ASD)<br>* The main objective of the proposed study is to examine the effect of implementing the proposed intervention on stress in mothers of children with ASD in SA<br>|
| Other: control group<br>control group will receive nothing but for ethical purposes will receive the same intervention after the end of the trial for the intervention group | Other: Nothing (treatment as usual)<br>* Mothers in the control group will continue to receive treatment as usual during the trial<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parent Stress Index Short From (PSI-SF) |  | 10 weeks |