Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice

Tessa Reardon; Obioha C. Ukoumunne; Mara Violato; Susan Ball; Paul Brown; Tamsin Ford; Alastair Gray; Claire Hill; Bec Jasper; Michael Larkin; Ian Macdonald; Fran Morgan; Jack Pollard; Michelle Sancho; Falko F. Sniehotta; Susan H. Spence; Paul Stallard; Jason Stainer; Lucy Taylor; Victoria Williamson; Emily Day; Jennifer Fisk; Iheoma Green; Gemma Halliday; Ciara Hennigan; Samantha Pearcey; Olly Robertson; Cathy Creswell

doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice

Tessa Reardon^*, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Mara Violato, Susan Ball, Paul Brown, Tamsin Ford, Alastair Gray, Claire Hill, Bec Jasper, Michael Larkin, Ian Macdonald, Fran Morgan, Jack Pollard, Michelle Sancho, Falko F. Sniehotta, Susan H. Spence, Paul Stallard, Jason Stainer, Lucy Taylor, Victoria WilliamsonEmily Day, Jennifer Fisk, Iheoma Green, Gemma Halliday, Ciara Hennigan, Samantha Pearcey, Olly Robertson, Cathy Creswell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Systematically screening for child anxiety problems, and offering and delivering a brief, evidence-based intervention for children who are identified as likely to benefit would minimise common barriers that families experience in accessing treatment. We have developed a short parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire, and procedures for administering screening questionnaires, sharing screening outcomes with families, and offering and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention (OSI: Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety) through schools. This trial aims to evaluate clinical and health economic outcomes for (1) children (aged 8–9) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) and (2) the wider population of all children in participating classes (total population) in schools randomly allocated to receive identification-to-intervention procedures and usual school practice (‘screening and intervention’), compared to assessment and usual school practice only (‘usual school practice’). Methods: The trial design is a parallel-group, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial, with schools (clusters) randomised to ‘screening and intervention’ or ‘usual school practice’ arms in a 1:1 ratio stratified according to the level of deprivation within the school. We will recruit schools and participants in two phases (a pilot phase (Phase 1) and Phase 2), with progression criteria assessed prior to progressing to Phase 2. In total, the trial will recruit 80 primary/junior schools in England, and 398 children (199 per arm) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population). In schools allocated to ‘screening and intervention’: (1) parents/carers will complete a brief parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire (at baseline) and receive feedback on their child’s screening outcomes (after randomisation), (2) classes will receive a lesson on managing fears and worries and staff will be provided with information about the intervention and (3) parents/carers of children who screen positive for anxiety problems (target population) will be offered OSI. OSI will also be available for any other parents/carers of children in participating classes (total population) who request it. We will collect child-, parent- and teacher-report measures for the target population and total population at baseline (before randomisation), 4 months, 12 months and 24 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be the proportion of children who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) who screen negative for anxiety problems 12 months post-randomisation. Discussion: This trial will establish if systematic screening for child anxiety problems, sharing screening outcomes with families and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention through schools is effective and cost-effective. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN76119074. Prospectively registered on 4.1.2022.

Original language	English
Article number	896
Journal	Trials
Volume	23
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0
Publication status	Published - Dec 2022

Keywords

Anxiety
Children
Cost-effectiveness
Early intervention
Identification
Online intervention
Parent-led intervention
Schools
Screening

Access to Document

10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

Reardon, T., Ukoumunne, O. C., Violato, M., Ball, S., Brown, P., Ford, T., Gray, A., Hill, C., Jasper, B., Larkin, M., Macdonald, I., Morgan, F., Pollard, J., Sancho, M., Sniehotta, F. F., Spence, S. H., Stallard, P., Stainer, J., Taylor, L., ... Creswell, C. (2022). Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice. Trials, 23(1), Article 896. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

@article{f751e27d4b5647198ca066429cafb485,

title = "Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice",

abstract = "Background: Systematically screening for child anxiety problems, and offering and delivering a brief, evidence-based intervention for children who are identified as likely to benefit would minimise common barriers that families experience in accessing treatment. We have developed a short parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire, and procedures for administering screening questionnaires, sharing screening outcomes with families, and offering and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention (OSI: Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety) through schools. This trial aims to evaluate clinical and health economic outcomes for (1) children (aged 8–9) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) and (2) the wider population of all children in participating classes (total population) in schools randomly allocated to receive identification-to-intervention procedures and usual school practice ({\textquoteleft}screening and intervention{\textquoteright}), compared to assessment and usual school practice only ({\textquoteleft}usual school practice{\textquoteright}). Methods: The trial design is a parallel-group, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial, with schools (clusters) randomised to {\textquoteleft}screening and intervention{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteleft}usual school practice{\textquoteright} arms in a 1:1 ratio stratified according to the level of deprivation within the school. We will recruit schools and participants in two phases (a pilot phase (Phase 1) and Phase 2), with progression criteria assessed prior to progressing to Phase 2. In total, the trial will recruit 80 primary/junior schools in England, and 398 children (199 per arm) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population). In schools allocated to {\textquoteleft}screening and intervention{\textquoteright}: (1) parents/carers will complete a brief parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire (at baseline) and receive feedback on their child{\textquoteright}s screening outcomes (after randomisation), (2) classes will receive a lesson on managing fears and worries and staff will be provided with information about the intervention and (3) parents/carers of children who screen positive for anxiety problems (target population) will be offered OSI. OSI will also be available for any other parents/carers of children in participating classes (total population) who request it. We will collect child-, parent- and teacher-report measures for the target population and total population at baseline (before randomisation), 4 months, 12 months and 24 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be the proportion of children who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) who screen negative for anxiety problems 12 months post-randomisation. Discussion: This trial will establish if systematic screening for child anxiety problems, sharing screening outcomes with families and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention through schools is effective and cost-effective. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN76119074. Prospectively registered on 4.1.2022.",

keywords = "Anxiety, Children, Cost-effectiveness, Early intervention, Identification, Online intervention, Parent-led intervention, Schools, Screening",

author = "Tessa Reardon and Ukoumunne, {Obioha C.} and Mara Violato and Susan Ball and Paul Brown and Tamsin Ford and Alastair Gray and Claire Hill and Bec Jasper and Michael Larkin and Ian Macdonald and Fran Morgan and Jack Pollard and Michelle Sancho and Sniehotta, {Falko F.} and Spence, {Susan H.} and Paul Stallard and Jason Stainer and Lucy Taylor and Victoria Williamson and Emily Day and Jennifer Fisk and Iheoma Green and Gemma Halliday and Ciara Hennigan and Samantha Pearcey and Olly Robertson and Cathy Creswell",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

journal = "Trials",

issn = "1745-6215",

publisher = "BioMed Central",

number = "1",

}

Reardon, T, Ukoumunne, OC, Violato, M, Ball, S, Brown, P, Ford, T, Gray, A, Hill, C, Jasper, B, Larkin, M, Macdonald, I, Morgan, F, Pollard, J, Sancho, M, Sniehotta, FF, Spence, SH, Stallard, P, Stainer, J, Taylor, L, Williamson, V, Day, E, Fisk, J, Green, I, Halliday, G, Hennigan, C, Pearcey, S, Robertson, O & Creswell, C 2022, 'Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice', Trials, vol. 23, no. 1, 896. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice. / Reardon, Tessa; Ukoumunne, Obioha C.; Violato, Mara et al.
In: Trials, Vol. 23, No. 1, 896, 12.2022.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i)

T2 - protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice

AU - Reardon, Tessa

AU - Ukoumunne, Obioha C.

AU - Violato, Mara

AU - Ball, Susan

AU - Brown, Paul

AU - Ford, Tamsin

AU - Gray, Alastair

AU - Hill, Claire

AU - Jasper, Bec

AU - Larkin, Michael

AU - Macdonald, Ian

AU - Morgan, Fran

AU - Pollard, Jack

AU - Sancho, Michelle

AU - Sniehotta, Falko F.

AU - Spence, Susan H.

AU - Stallard, Paul

AU - Stainer, Jason

AU - Taylor, Lucy

AU - Williamson, Victoria

AU - Day, Emily

AU - Fisk, Jennifer

AU - Green, Iheoma

AU - Halliday, Gemma

AU - Hennigan, Ciara

AU - Pearcey, Samantha

AU - Robertson, Olly

AU - Creswell, Cathy

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Background: Systematically screening for child anxiety problems, and offering and delivering a brief, evidence-based intervention for children who are identified as likely to benefit would minimise common barriers that families experience in accessing treatment. We have developed a short parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire, and procedures for administering screening questionnaires, sharing screening outcomes with families, and offering and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention (OSI: Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety) through schools. This trial aims to evaluate clinical and health economic outcomes for (1) children (aged 8–9) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) and (2) the wider population of all children in participating classes (total population) in schools randomly allocated to receive identification-to-intervention procedures and usual school practice (‘screening and intervention’), compared to assessment and usual school practice only (‘usual school practice’). Methods: The trial design is a parallel-group, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial, with schools (clusters) randomised to ‘screening and intervention’ or ‘usual school practice’ arms in a 1:1 ratio stratified according to the level of deprivation within the school. We will recruit schools and participants in two phases (a pilot phase (Phase 1) and Phase 2), with progression criteria assessed prior to progressing to Phase 2. In total, the trial will recruit 80 primary/junior schools in England, and 398 children (199 per arm) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population). In schools allocated to ‘screening and intervention’: (1) parents/carers will complete a brief parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire (at baseline) and receive feedback on their child’s screening outcomes (after randomisation), (2) classes will receive a lesson on managing fears and worries and staff will be provided with information about the intervention and (3) parents/carers of children who screen positive for anxiety problems (target population) will be offered OSI. OSI will also be available for any other parents/carers of children in participating classes (total population) who request it. We will collect child-, parent- and teacher-report measures for the target population and total population at baseline (before randomisation), 4 months, 12 months and 24 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be the proportion of children who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) who screen negative for anxiety problems 12 months post-randomisation. Discussion: This trial will establish if systematic screening for child anxiety problems, sharing screening outcomes with families and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention through schools is effective and cost-effective. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN76119074. Prospectively registered on 4.1.2022.

AB - Background: Systematically screening for child anxiety problems, and offering and delivering a brief, evidence-based intervention for children who are identified as likely to benefit would minimise common barriers that families experience in accessing treatment. We have developed a short parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire, and procedures for administering screening questionnaires, sharing screening outcomes with families, and offering and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention (OSI: Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety) through schools. This trial aims to evaluate clinical and health economic outcomes for (1) children (aged 8–9) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) and (2) the wider population of all children in participating classes (total population) in schools randomly allocated to receive identification-to-intervention procedures and usual school practice (‘screening and intervention’), compared to assessment and usual school practice only (‘usual school practice’). Methods: The trial design is a parallel-group, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial, with schools (clusters) randomised to ‘screening and intervention’ or ‘usual school practice’ arms in a 1:1 ratio stratified according to the level of deprivation within the school. We will recruit schools and participants in two phases (a pilot phase (Phase 1) and Phase 2), with progression criteria assessed prior to progressing to Phase 2. In total, the trial will recruit 80 primary/junior schools in England, and 398 children (199 per arm) who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population). In schools allocated to ‘screening and intervention’: (1) parents/carers will complete a brief parent-report child anxiety screening questionnaire (at baseline) and receive feedback on their child’s screening outcomes (after randomisation), (2) classes will receive a lesson on managing fears and worries and staff will be provided with information about the intervention and (3) parents/carers of children who screen positive for anxiety problems (target population) will be offered OSI. OSI will also be available for any other parents/carers of children in participating classes (total population) who request it. We will collect child-, parent- and teacher-report measures for the target population and total population at baseline (before randomisation), 4 months, 12 months and 24 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be the proportion of children who screen positive for anxiety problems at baseline (target population) who screen negative for anxiety problems 12 months post-randomisation. Discussion: This trial will establish if systematic screening for child anxiety problems, sharing screening outcomes with families and delivering a brief parent-led online intervention through schools is effective and cost-effective. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN76119074. Prospectively registered on 4.1.2022.

KW - Anxiety

KW - Children

KW - Cost-effectiveness

KW - Early intervention

KW - Identification

KW - Online intervention

KW - Parent-led intervention

KW - Schools

KW - Screening

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140309741&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

DO - 10.1186/s13063-022-06773-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 36273185

AN - SCOPUS:85140309741

SN - 1745-6215

VL - 23

JO - Trials

JF - Trials

IS - 1

M1 - 896

ER -

Identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention (iCATS-i2i): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to compare screening, feedback and intervention for child anxiety problems to usual school practice

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this