Abstract
Background: High rates of restricted community participation have been reported in young children with developmental disabilities. Occupational performance coaching (OPC), grounded in self-determination theory, aims to facilitate children's participation in life situations through coaching parents. However, there have been limited randomized controlled trials demonstrating the efficacy of OPC, especially with a specific focus on children's community participation. The proposed study is the first step in evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of OPC in Hong Kong and testing its initial efficacy (in comparison to parent consultation) in promoting children's community participation.Method/Design: A feasibility and pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial will be undertaken. Fifty children aged 6 years or below with developmental disabilities and their parents will be recruited from early intervention centers and/or through social media in Hong Kong. Parents will be randomly assigned to receive OPC or consultation, and will be blinded to group allocation. Outcomes will be assessed by blinded assessors at baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. Predetermined success criteria will be used to assess the feasibility of the trial. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with parents to explore the acceptability and perceived impact of OPC.Discussion: This trial will test whether the study protocol and OPC are feasible and acceptable, as well as assess the initial efficacy of OPC to obtain effect size estimates. The results of the trial will inform future preparations for conducting a full-scale efficacy trial of OPC.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (#NCT04796909), Registered on 15th March 2021.
Highlights
Foundations for lifelong health begin in the first 6 years of a child’s life through participation in everyday activities [1]
This trial will test whether the study protocol and Occupational performance coaching (OPC) are feasible and acceptable, as well as assess the initial efficacy of OPC to obtain effect size estimates
We propose a study protocol that will be used in the Phase 1 randomized control trial (RCT) which aims to evaluate the feasibility of conducting an RCT of OPC in Hong Kong, the acceptability of the coaching intervention, and the initial efficacy of OPC on promoting children’s community participation
Summary
High rates of restricted community participation have been reported in young children with developmental disabilities. There have been limited randomized controlled trials demonstrating the efficacy of OPC, especially with a specific focus on children’s community participation. The proposed study is the first step in evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of OPC in Hong Kong and testing its initial efficacy (in comparison to parent consultation) in promoting children’s community participation. Method/Design: A feasibility and pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial will be undertaken. Fifty children aged 6 years or below with developmental disabilities and their parents will be recruited from early intervention centers and/or through social media in Hong Kong. Predetermined success criteria will be used to assess the feasibility of the trial. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with parents to explore the acceptability and perceived impact of OPC
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
