Clinical trial NCT06438120: Chatbot-based Positive Psychology Intervention in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Official title: Chatbot-based Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote Well-being in Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Feasibility Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Lead sponsor: Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-05-31
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Participants will receive chatbot-based positive psychology exercises including positive introduction, personal strengths, using strengths, three good things, gratitude letter/visit, hope and optimism, active/constructive responding, and savoring.
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: This project aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention.

Detailed description: According to a World Health Organization report, one in 100 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is characterized by varying degrees of disability and deviation in social communication and interaction. Half of the parents of children with ASD have reported showing depression and high levels of anxiety. Lower well-being and poor quality-of-life have also been reported. Thus, there is an urgent need to find applicable interventions to reduce depressive symptoms and promote mental health in caregivers of children with ASD.

Positive psychology intervention uses positive psychological skills, such as savoring, gratitude, forgiveness, optimism, personal strength, and attainable goals, to identify meaning and value in life events and to promote positive emotions, cognitions and behaviors. Considering the convenience, low cost and popularity of chatbot, chatbot-based positive psychology intervention will be applied in this study. A pilot feasibility study will be proposed to evaluate the feasibility of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention.

The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of chatbot-based positive psychology intervention in promoting well-being in caregivers of children with ASD (Primary).

The secondary objectives are:

To test if the intervention reduces perceived stress in caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the intervention reduces depressive symptoms of caregivers of children with ASD; To test if the intervention improves quality of life in caregivers of children with ASD.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria:

Primary caregivers

* (i) providing long-term care for the primary-school-age child (6-11 years old) diagnosed with ASD;
* (ii) who are over 18 years old;
* (iii) who have the ability to communicate and read in Chinese;
* (iv) who have at least one mobile phone with an internet connection.

Exclusion criteria:

Primary caregivers

* (i) who participate in a similar psychological intervention within one year;
* (ii) currently on regular psychotropic medications.

Primary outcomes:
measure: The score of feasibility
timeFrame: After the intervention immediately
measure: Qualitative results of feasibility
timeFrame: After the intervention immediately
measure: The score of well-being
timeFrame: Baseline and after the intervention immediately
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Perceived Stress
timeFrame: Baseline and after the intervention immediately
measure: Depressive symptoms
timeFrame: Baseline and after the intervention immediately
measure: The score of Quality of life
timeFrame: Baseline and after the intervention immediately
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: Hong Kong
facility: Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Study officials:
References: