RecruitingACTRN12622001168741

Family Surfing Activity for children and adolescents with chronic conditions: Effects on Health and Well-being

Sponsor

Perth Children's Hospital

Enrollment

180 participants

Start Date

Aug 14, 2022

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Post Burn Injury Sarcoma Cystic Fibrosis Cerebral Palsy Type I Diabetes Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a family-based surfing intervention on the physical and psychological wellbeing of children and adolescents with chronic conditions. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are a patient with one of the following conditions and aged 7-18 years: Cystic Fibrosis, Post-Burn Injury, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy, Sarcoma, or Type I Diabetes. Study details Participants who choose to enrol in this study will be randomly allocated to either receive the surfing intervention, or no intervention at all. Those in the surfing group will complete 12 one-hour surf lessons over 8 weeks, with the same instructor. All participants will complete questionnaires collecting data on factors such as psychological wellbeing, physical activity and family relationships. It is hoped that data from this study will help determine whether a family surfing program may lead to potential ongoing and low-cost health benefits for participants.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 7 YearssMax Age: 65 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study explores whether a structured family surfing program can improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of children and teenagers (aged 7 to 18) living with chronic health conditions. The conditions included are cystic fibrosis, burns injuries, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, cerebral palsy, sarcoma (bone or soft tissue cancer), and type 1 diabetes. Rather than targeting the children alone, the program also includes their family members — making it a shared activity that may strengthen family bonds alongside providing physical benefits. Participants will be randomly assigned to either complete 12 one-hour surf lessons over 8 weeks with a consistent instructor, or to a control group with no intervention. All participants fill out questionnaires about how they are feeling physically and emotionally, how active they are, and how their family relationships are going. You may be eligible if you have one of the listed chronic conditions and are aged 7 to 18. Family members (caregivers and siblings aged 7 or older) are also included. Everyone in the surfing group must be able to float or tread water safely in ocean conditions. People with other serious health conditions that would make surfing unsafe, or with a moderate intellectual disability, would not be able to participate.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

This study will be a randomised, controlled, parallel, group study. Participants will be recruited and then allocated in a 2:1 ratio to the surfing intervention (experimental group) or into a control

This study will be a randomised, controlled, parallel, group study. Participants will be recruited and then allocated in a 2:1 ratio to the surfing intervention (experimental group) or into a control group. The surfing intervention will consist of 12 x 1 hour surfing lessons with the patient and family administered over an 8 week period. This will be conducted by one surf school and the family will be allocated the same instructor for the duration of the 12 lessons. Attendance will be recorded on a secure booking database. To evaluate the intervention, participants (regardless of group assignment) will complete questionnaires pre and post intervention, and after 12 weeks’ follow up. Qualitative data will be collected from a randomised subset of 40 families from the intervention group about their surfing experience. This will be conducted by a researcher on the team via semi-structured interview. Our participants will be recruited from the following patient groups: • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) • Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) • Post Burns Injury (PBI) • Cerebral Palsy (CP) • Type I Diabetes (T1D) • Oncology disease (sarcoma) • (Autism - in the future, we do not have funding for this group yet) • (Mental Health Disorder: inpatients - in the future, no funding for this group yet) We aim to recruit 20 individuals and their families from each pathology subgroup for the surfing intervention, which will result in a total of 120 patients and their families in the experimental arm of the study. The surfing lessons are designed specifically for this study and each participant will have their lesson plan modified based on their ability and the information provided from and assessed by the physiotherapist on the research team, with the Goal Attainment Scale. Surfing Intervention Participant family arrives at surf school location in Perth area. Surf instructor builds rapport with family members, and reviews skills and abilities. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided to all participants. Patient and other participants wear white rash vest. Surf instructor takes participant family to beach and picks surf spot. Surf instructor provides education on safety, positioning on surfboard, paddling, catching waves, take-off (standing up on surfboard). Surf instructor provides instruction, evaluation and modelling of surf skills during lesson. At the end of the lesson the surf instructors takes participant families back to the van. Each surf lesson is 1 hour in duration Surf instructor will focus on building a positive relationship with participants over the lessons