Attrition in Pediatric Obesity Management
This study is called 'Attrition in Pediatric Obesity Management' and focuses on supporting children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 who are receiving help for obesity. We know it can be hard for families to keep attending all their appointments and treatments, which is sometimes called 'attrition' or dropping out. The study is testing a 'Family Navigation' programme. This involves specially trained people, called navigators, who work with families to overcome challenges like transport or fitting appointments into their busy lives. They can provide practical help, like parking passes, and supportive messages. We want to see if this extra support helps families stay with their treatment longer, making it more likely they’ll get the full benefits.
At a glance
What is this study about?
When children and young people need help to manage their weight, it can be a long journey. Often, treatment involves many appointments and changes to daily routines, which can be challenging for families to keep up with. Sometimes, families might stop attending appointments or drop out of treatment early, and this is what we call 'attrition'. This study aims to find out if a special support system called 'Family Navigation' can help families stay engaged with their child's weight management programme.
Family Navigation means that a trained helper, called a navigator, will work closely with children and their families. This navigator's job is to identify and address any difficulties a family might be facing that make it hard to get to appointments or follow advice. This could be anything from needing help with travel costs to feeling overwhelmed and needing extra encouragement. The navigator can offer practical solutions and connect families with useful resources to make their journey easier.
One group of children in the study will receive this Family Navigation support alongside their usual care, while another group will just receive their usual care. By comparing both groups, the researchers hope to understand if Family Navigation is a useful way to help families continue with their treatment and get the most out of it. If it works well, this study will help plan a much larger study to confirm its benefits and hopefully make this kind of support more widely available in the future.
Key takeaways
- This study explores how a 'Family Navigator' can help families stick with children's weight management plans.
- It aims to reduce 'attrition' (families dropping out) from obesity programmes.
- Children aged 6-17 are eligible, provided a parent/guardian who can communicate in English participates.
- One group will get Family Navigation support for 12 months, the other will continue with usual care.
- This is a 'feasibility' study, meaning it helps plan for future, larger research.
- Participation involves no new medication and you can withdraw at any time.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for children and teenagers between 6 and 17 years old who are currently receiving help for obesity. To be eligible, your child's Body Mass Index (BMI) needs to be at or above the 97th percentile, which means it's higher than 97% of other children their age and sex.
Also, a parent or guardian must be able to take part in the study alongside the child. It's important that this main caregiver can communicate in English, as the special Family Navigation support will only be provided in English. Unfortunately, if your child is outside this age range or if the primary caregiver cannot speak English, they won't be able to join this particular study.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Is your child between 6 and 17 years old?
- Is your child currently receiving treatment for obesity?
- Is your child's BMI at or above the 97th percentile?
- Can a parent or guardian take part in the study?
- Can the main parent or guardian communicate fluently in English?
What does participation involve?
If your child takes part in this study, they will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive their usual care for managing obesity, which they are already getting. The other group will receive their usual care plus extra support from a 'Family Navigator' for 12 months. This navigator will offer help and resources to make it easier to attend appointments and access services.
Both groups will be followed for 12 months to see how they are doing. The study will look at how often families attend appointments and overall engagement with the programme. The whole study is expected to take about two and a half years to complete, from start to finish, including planning and analysing the results. You won't be given any new medication as part of this study.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- University of AlbertaVerified postcodeEdmonton, Canada
Common questions
What is 'attrition' in this study?
Attrition means when families stop coming to appointments or withdraw from a treatment programme early.
What is a 'Family Navigator'?
A Family Navigator is a trained person who helps families overcome problems that make it hard to access health services and support, like transport or scheduling.
Will my child get a new medicine?
No, this study does not involve any new medicines. It's about providing extra support alongside your child's current care.
How long will the study last for my child?
Your child's participation in the study, including any extra support, will last for 12 months.
Can I leave the study if I want to?
Yes, you can choose to leave the study at any time without it affecting your child's ongoing medical care.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
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