The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA)

Kostyrka-Allchorne, Katarzyna; Ballard, Claire; Byford, Sarah; Cortese, Samuele; Daley, David; Downs, Johnny; French, Blandine; Glazebrook, Cristine; Goldsmith, Kimberley; Groom, Madeleine J.; Hall, Charlotte L.; Hedstrom, Ellen; Ibrahim, Zina; Jarvis, Christine; Kovshoff, Hanna; Kreppner, Jana; Lean, Nancy; Morris, Anna; Gutierrez, Walter Muruet; Sayal, Kapil; Shearer, James; Simonoff, Emily; Thompson, Margaret; Zalewski, Lukasz; Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J.S.

Abstract

Background: In the UK, children with high levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention referred to clinical services with possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often wait a long time for specialist diagnostic assessment. Parent training (PT) has the potential to support parents during this difficult period, especially regarding the management of challenging and disruptive behaviours that often accompany ADHD. However, traditional face-to-face PT is costly and difficult to organise in a timely way. We have created a low-cost, easily accessible PT programme delivered via a phone app, Structured E-Parenting Support (STEPS), to address this problem. The overall OPTIMA programme will evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of STEPS as a way of helping parents manage their children behaviour while on the waitlist. To ensure the timely and efficient evaluation of STEPS in OPTIMA, we have worked with children’s health services to implement a remote strategy for recruitment, screening and assessment of recently referred families. Part of this strategy is incorporated into routine clinical practice and part is OPTIMA specific. Here, we present the protocol for Phase 1 of OPTIMA—a study of the feasibility of this remote strategy, as a basis for a large-scale STEPS randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods: This is a single arm observational feasibility study. Participants will be parents of up to 100 children aged 5-11 years with high levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention and challenging behaviour who are waiting for assessment in one of five UK child and adolescent mental health or behavioural services. Recruitment, consenting and data collection will occur remotely. The primary outcome will be the rate at which the families, who meet inclusion criteria, agree in principle to take part in a full STEPS RCT. Secondary outcomes include acceptability of remote consenting and online data collection procedures; the feasibility of collecting teacher data remotely within the required timeframe, and technical difficulties with completing online questionnaires. All parents in the study will receive access to STEPS. Discussion: Establishing the feasibility of our remote recruitment, consenting and assessment strategy is a pre-requisite for the full trial of OPTIMA. It can also provide a model for future trials conducted remotely.

Citation

Kostyrka-Allchorne, K., Ballard, C., Byford, S., Cortese, S., Daley, D., Downs, J., …Sonuga-Barke, E. J. (2022). The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA). Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00959-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 3, 2022
• Publication Date: Jan 3, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 6, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 3, 2022
• Journal: Pilot and Feasibility Studies
• Electronic ISSN: 2055-5784
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00959-0
• Keywords: Medicine (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6907326
• Publisher URL: https://pilotfeasibilitystudies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40814-021-00959-0
• Additional Information: Received: 20 July 2021; Accepted: 3 December 2021; First Online: 3 January 2022; : ; : The application for ethical approval for the study was submitted to the London-Riverside Research Ethics Committee (REC) and received a favourable opinion on further information on 17 November 2020, REC reference number: 20/LO/1173.; : Not applicable.; : STEPS concepts and content was designed by ESB, DD, JD, HK, JK and MT with SC providing advice. STEPS visual design and digital implementation were completed by TOAD with funding provided to ESB by the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust. Videos were produced by Eye Witness Productions Ltd. funded by Solent NHS Trust.ESB has received speaker fees, consultancy or research funding from Takeda, Neurotech Solutions, QBtech and Medice. He has received royalties from the New Forest Parenting Programme. DD reports speaker fees, consultancy and funding from Shire/Takeda, Medice and Eli Lilly. Non-financial support from Medice and Qb Tech. He has received royalties from the New Forest Parenting Programme and fees for the provision of training and supervision for the New Forest Parenting Programme. MT has received royalties from the New Forest Parenting Programme and fees for the provision of training and supervision for the New Forest Parenting Programme. SCo declares honoraria and reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses for lectures from the following non-profit associations: Association for Child and Adolescent Central Health (ACAMH), Canadian ADHD Alliance Resource (CADDRA), British Association of Pharmacology (BAP) and from Healthcare Convention for educational activity on ADHD. JD and AM are supported by an NIHR Clinician Science Fellowship award (CS-2018-18-ST2-014). JD has received support from a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Research Training Fellowship (MR/L017105/1) and Psychiatry Research Trust Peggy Pollak Research Fellowship in Developmental Psychiatry.