Effectiveness of a Web-based Intervention for Guardians of Children Whose One Parent Has Murdered the Other

NCT ID: NCT00737035

Last Updated: 2015-08-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

WITHDRAWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-07-31

Study Completion Date

2009-06-30

Brief Summary

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This study will determine whether a specialized Web site geared for the guardians of children whose one parent has murdered the other can increase guardian capabilities, reduce guardian stress, and improve child behavior and mental health.

Detailed Description

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Intraparental homicide (IPH), when one parent kills the other, leaves approximately 4,000 children bereaved each year, adding to a total of 70,000 currently in the United States. Although few studies have focused on this phenomenon, available data indicate children of IPH suffer short- and long-term mental health consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prior research also indicates that guardians, often family members under stress themselves, do not know how to help the children. No interventions directed at guardians of child survivors of IPH are found in scientific and clinical literature. Use of a specialized Web site called an Interactive Healthcare Communication Application (IHCA) has been found effective in treating multiple health conditions, including breast cancer in women and asthma in children. This study aims to refine an IHCA Web site for use by guardians of child survivors of IPH, to determine the safety and effectiveness of this Web site, and to determine how it is used by targeted guardians.

In the first phase of this study researchers will develop the IHCA based on feedback from a small focus group of guardians of child survivors of IPH. Then guardians of survivors of IPH up to 16 years old will be randomly assigned either to receive access to the IHCA created for them or to have access only to generally available Internet information. The IHCA will have six components: (1) an Instant Library of articles on topics of interest; (2) a resource directory of both national and local support and service organizations; (3) access to a peer communication system; (4) a Frequently Asked Questions section, updated with responses to user generated questions; (5) an "Ask an Expert" system staffed by researchers; and (6) personal stories of others dealing with IPH. Participants with access to the IHCA will receive print and phone instructions explaining the Web site and have their usage monitored by tracking software. Those in the control group will be directed to a Web site linking to publically available, pre-existing support Web sites. After 16 weeks of unlimited access to the IHCA or control group Web sites from their home computers, all participants will complete four evaluation reviews: the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, the Parenting Stress Index, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Child PTSD Inventory - Parent.

Conditions

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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1-Intervention

For 16 weeks, participants will have access to an interactive healthcare communication application (IHCA).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Interactive Healthcare Communication Application

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The IHCA is an Internet-based tool that integrates multiple resources for guardians of survivors of interparental homicide. The IHCA will have six components: (1) an instant library of articles on topics of interest; (2) a resource directory of both national and local support and service organizations; (3) access to a peer communication system; (4) a Frequently Asked Questions section, updated with responses to user generated questions; (5) an "Ask an Expert" system staffed by researchers; and (6) personal stories of others dealing with IPH.

2- Control

For 16 weeks, participants will have access to generally available Internet-based information about parenting, trauma, and child development.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control Web sites

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Only publicly available Web sites on parenting, child development, and trauma will be used.

Interventions

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Interactive Healthcare Communication Application

The IHCA is an Internet-based tool that integrates multiple resources for guardians of survivors of interparental homicide. The IHCA will have six components: (1) an instant library of articles on topics of interest; (2) a resource directory of both national and local support and service organizations; (3) access to a peer communication system; (4) a Frequently Asked Questions section, updated with responses to user generated questions; (5) an "Ask an Expert" system staffed by researchers; and (6) personal stories of others dealing with IPH.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Control Web sites

Only publicly available Web sites on parenting, child development, and trauma will be used.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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IHCA

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Able to speak and read English at a 7th grade level
* Guardian of a child survivor of parental homicide aged 0 to 16 years

Exclusion Criteria

* None
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Virginia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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University of Virginia School of Nursing

Principal Investigators

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Kathryn S. Laughon, PhD RN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Virginia School of Nursing

Locations

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University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Laughon K, Steeves RH, Parker B, Knopp A, Sawin EM. Forgiveness, and other themes, in women whose fathers killed their mothers. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2008 Apr-Jun;31(2):153-63. doi: 10.1097/01.ANS.0000319565.68760.4d.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18497591 (View on PubMed)

Steeves R, Laughon K, Parker B, Weierbach F. Talking about talk: the experiences of boys who survived intraparental homicide. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2007 Aug;28(8):899-912. doi: 10.1080/01612840701493576.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17729173 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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R21MH082197

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1R21MH082197-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

DDTR B3-PDS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2008-0130-00

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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