Dialogical Family Guidance PostDoc Study

Tampere University50 enrolled

Overview

This new family intervention, called Dialogical Family Guidance (DFG) is developed to target family needs especially in families with a child with neurodevelopmental disorders. PhD study showed, that this intervention is functioning with this target group. Participants (families) experienced that they got information, guidance to ordinary life and that the DFG-therapists were listening to them and above all, helping with individual problems and questions. DFG include six meetings and professionals need to attend on a 3-day long education before using this intervention.

Previous studies have highlighted the need for families with a child with neurodevelopmental disorders, to get guidance to daily life, information and also professionals who allow parents to share their own experiences, feelings and questions. Dialogical Family Guidance is developed to offer target families (participants) the help mentioned above. This study is a postdoctoral study to achieve more knowledge and understanding about DFG intervention. This Postdoctoral study is focusing on DFG effectivity offered to families with young children (5-7years). Researchers also want to receive information about DFG effectivity between different units inside and outside the university hospital. Comparation between different units using DFG is one goal with this postdoc study. These results may give researchers deeper understanding when deciding where (university hospital och basic level units) and for whom (childrens age?) DFG intervention is giving the most optimal help.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 4 YearsMax age: 13 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Families with a child with clinical diagnosis within neurodevelopmental ambrella (ADHD, Tourette, Autism disorder, OCD...). * the child must be between 4-13 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Families who do not understand finnish language (because they can not fill the questionnaires and professionals offering DFG are all finnish speaking). At least one parent needs to talk finnish. * Families who are not motivated to receive DFG. * Families who do not have a child with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

FAFHES

FAFHES (Family Function, Health, and Social Support-questionnaire). The name of the questionnaire explains the content of this questionnaire that includes three sections: family functionality (19 items), family health (23 items), family support provided by professionals (21 items). Likert scale is used with ranging from 1-6 (1= disagree totally......6=I agree totally).

Time frame: 0 months and 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

DFG-questionnaire

This questionnaire has been developed for DFG intervention including questions about the intervention sessions and themes. Items are included: e.g. questions about the amount and time consumed on DFG, content as a whole, practical advances, did your family get help, would you recommend this to other families. Likert scale from 1-5 is used. Two open ended questions in the end of the questionnaire is included.

Time frame: 3 months

SDQ-p questionnaire (Strengths and difficulties regarding the child)

Measures changes in child's behavior. Includes 25 items with 3 point likert scale.