Novita Research Report - 2004 to 2007 - Novita Children's Services

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26Project titleContributorsFundingSummaryUsing the internet to increase physical activity in adolescents with cerebral palsy– are you kidding?Carol Maher (University of South Australia and Novita Children’s Services), A/Prof MarieWilliams (University of South Australia), Prof Tim Olds (University of South Australia), Dr AlisonLane (University of South Australia)• Cerebral Palsy Foundation Doctoral Research GrantInteractive online computer-based programs are a relatively new medium for facilitatinghealth-related behaviour change. They offer numerous advantages over face-to-face delivery,including 24-hour availability, novelty, accessibility regardless of transport issues and onceestablished, low operating costs. This study tested the effectiveness of a purpose-designed,internet-based interactive intervention aimed at improving physical activity and relatedbehaviours in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). The program (named GetSet) is a ninemodule intervention program based on the Social Cognitive Theory, incorporating education,self-reflection, goal-setting and positive role-modeling.GetSet was tested using a randomised controlled trial, in which twenty adolescents with CPused the program and 21 adolescents with CP acted as controls. Assessments were carriedout at baseline, immediately post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline) and 10 weeks postintervention(22 weeks after baseline). The 22 week assessments are currently underway.Preliminary analyses based on the baseline and 12 week data suggest promising results,however it will be important to see if these trends are maintained longer-term.MethodNovita clients aged 11-17 with CP, mild-to-moderate levels of physical disability, consideredby their parent to have adequate reading and comprehension skills to use the website andwho lived near Adelaide were eligible for the study. Participants who agreed to be involvedwere randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Intervention group participantsreceived a one-on-one introduction to the GetSet website and were encouraged to logonto the website at least weekly for eight weeks. Blinded assessments were carried out atbaseline, immediately post-intervention and 10 weeks post-intervention. The primary outcomemeasures were seven-day objective physical activity (NL-1000 pedometer/accelerometers)and four-day self-reported physical activity (measured using the Multimedia Activity Recallfor Children and Adolescents [MARCA]). Secondary outcomes were exercise knowledge(purpose-designed quiz), exercise attitudes, exercise intention, exercise self-efficacy (Leap IIscales), self-reported recreational screen time (MARCA) and functional capacity (six-minutewalk test).Results Of the 118 eligible Novita clients, 41 consented to participate (mean age 13 years, range 11-16years, males=26). Chi-squared analyses and t-tests revealed that prior to the interventionthere was no significant differences between the intervention (n=20) and the control (n=21)group participants for demographic characteristics or outcome measures, with the exceptionof screen time (p=0.05). All participants attended post-intervention assessments. At followup,both groups showed a reduction in weekly pedometer counts, self-reported dailymoderate-vigorous physical activity and an increase in self-reported daily recreational screentime, suggesting a seasonal effect of the timing of the intervention (autumn/winter). Mixedmodeling analyses found no statistically significant time-by-group interactions, howeverthe pattern of changes supported the intervention group relative to the control group withmoderate effect sizes (0.43, 0.5, 0.6 and -0.46 for weekly step counts [p=0.06], weekly activeminutes [p=0.06], exercise knowledge [p=0.08] and self-reported screen time [p=0.17]respectively). Final follow-up assessments are currently being completed.
27ImplicationsFor clients – it appears that the internet is an enjoyable, accessible and effective means ofaccessing services. Adolescent clients and their families were interested in, and engagedsuccessfully in, this self-management program.For services – this study has developed a new intervention which may be used to supplementmore traditional forms of therapy.There appears to be good potential to expand this program for a wider client population andto develop other types of self-management programs for adolescent clients.StatusOngoingEvaluation of measurements, interventions, programs andclinical practice> ProgramNovita staff contributors highlighted in boldProject titleContributorsFeasibility of It Takes Two To Talk® for families of children with motor impairmentsUK team: Dr Lindsay Pennington, Professor Senga Bond and Dr Thomas Klee (all fromUniversity of Newcastle, UK)Novita team: Dr Parimala Raghavendra, Catherine Olsson, Lynette Rule, EmmaColstonFundingSummary• Department of Health, National Health Service Research and Development Program, UK(fellowship to Dr Lindsay Pennigton)• Health Foundation, UKRecently, the Hanen Early Language Parent Program, It Takes Two to Talk®, has gainedpopularity and is offered to parents of children with a wide range of developmentaldisabilities in the UK and in Australia. Hanen aims to train parents to facilitate their child’searly communication development by watching and waiting for their child’s communicationsignals and responding to build conversation from these signals, which has been associatedwith changes in interaction patterns for parents and children. However the program wasdeveloped for children with developmental disabilities and has not been validated specificallyfor the subgroup of children with motor impairments who have distinct and complexcommunication disorders.The study investigated the following questions:1. Is It Takes Two to Talk® associated with positive communication changes for parents andtheir children who have motor disorders?2. Is It Takes Two to Talk® associated with changes in the complexity of mothers’ languageto their children with motor disorders?3. How acceptable and useful is the Hanen training to the families?
Page 1 and 2: Research Report2004-2007Connecting
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to Research at NovitaWelcom
Page 8 and 9: List of project summariesProject ti
Page 10 and 11: 10Project summariesEnhancing partic
Page 12 and 13: 12MethodThree groups of children ag
Page 14 and 15: 14Project titleContributorsFundingS
Page 16 and 17: 16ResultsThe lowest, highest and me
Page 18 and 19: 18ResultsImplicationsEmergent theme
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Page 24 and 25: 24ResultsThree participants were re
Page 28 and 29: 28MethodA quasi-experimental design
Page 30 and 31: 30Evaluation of measurements, inter
Page 32 and 33: 32ImplicationsFor children and thei
Page 34 and 35: 34ResultsFive students (25%) respon
Page 36 and 37: 36ImplicationsStatusFor consultants
Page 38 and 39: 38Project summariesEvaluation of se
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Page 46 and 47: 46Results The survey was sent to 22
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Page 52 and 53: 52ResultsThe prototype URC that was
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Page 56 and 57: 56MethodThe following process was u
Page 58 and 59: 58ImplicationsStatusThe project was
Page 60 and 61: 60ImplicationsStatusReferencesFamil
Page 62 and 63: 62ResultsThe workshop series began
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76MethodThe drive for developing an
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78ImplicationsThe ongoing use and i
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80ImplicationsStatusThis system is
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82Other refereed publicationsNguyen
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84Australian Group on Severe Commun
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86Mobility 2005, Exeter, UK• Outc
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88Grants and awards received*Novita
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902005 Australian and New Zealand A
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Head Office171 Days RoadRegency Par
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