PACT Programme for Parents of Children With SHCN

Background: The caregiving burden experienced by parents of children with special health care needs (SHCN) is known to be significant, and its impact tends to be exacerbated when an outbreak of a novel infectious disease occurs. As shown in this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with the prolonged disruptions of individualised rehabilitation/supporting services which cannot be substituted by digital/remoted format and the unprecedented economic hardship, many parents of children with SHCN are under psychological distress, affecting parenting behaviours and child well-being. Existing interventions in literature only serve for suspected/infected cases/healthcare workers. Many interventions were developed without a conceptual understanding of what/how the proposed active/therapeutic ingredient(s)/process(es) could lead to desired outcomes. This study informs the development of a conceptual model, showing that two psychological constructs, namely psychological flexibility (a therapeutic process measured in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and prosociality (an attitude and/or behaviour that orient(s) toward the welfare of others and society) played significant roles in mitigating the adverse impact of COVID-19 on parental mental health.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of a 12-week, smartphone-based Prosocial-orientated Acceptance and Commitment Training (PACT) programme plus age-appropriate positive parenting advice on the psychological flexibility, prosociality, parenting competence of parents and family functioning parents of children with SHCN as well as the mental well-being of parent-child dyads over 12 months follow-up.

Hypotheses to be tested: When compared to the Control Group, the participation in the PACT programme could improve parental mental well-being, child mental well-being, parental psychological flexibility and parental prosociality, parenting competence and family functioning at immediate, 3-, 6- and 12 months after the completion of the programme.

Design and subjects: A randomised controlled trial with a blinded, two-arm, repeated-measures design; 196 Cantonese-speaking parents/caregivers of children with special health care needs.

Study Instruments: Validated questionnaires.

Intervention: A 12-week, smartphone-based Prosocial-orientated Acceptance and Commitment Training (PACT) programme plus age-appropriate positive parenting advice.

Primary outcome measure: Parental mental well-being and child mental well-being.

Data analysis: Generalised estimating equation specifying an identity link function and a normal distribution will be employed to examine its change across two groups and all assessment time-points, followed by posthoc comparisons.

Expected results: To increase the mental well-being of parents and their children with special health needs. In addition, parenting competence and family functioning will also be improved.

• Parental psychological flexibility [Срок оценки: Change from baseline assessment to immediate, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention]
• Parental prosociality [Срок оценки: Change from baseline assessment to immediate, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention]
• Parenting competence [Срок оценки: Change from baseline assessment to immediate, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention]
• Family functioning [Срок оценки: Change from baseline assessment to immediate, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention]