CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00451282Updated Apr 20, 2015Results posted

Stepped Preventive Care to Reduce the Impact of Acute Pediatric Injury

A Phase 3 interventional study of stepped preventive care in Stress Disorders, Posttraumatic, sponsored by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 8 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-04-20.

Sponsored by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
290
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
8 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study will evaluate the impact of a brief psychosocial intervention delivered to children or adolescents who are hospitalized for an unintentional injury. The intervention is designed to promote psychological recovery and enhance functional outcomes after injury. The study will also provide preliminary data concerning cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

The core study hypotheses are that children receiving the intervention will (1) have lower severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms at follow-up; (2) show greater adherence to discharge instructions and better health-related quality of life at follow-up, and (3) have higher rates of attendance at scheduled follow-up appointments and lower rates of emergency room utilization and re-hospitalization in the 6 months post-injury, compared to those receiving usual care.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a stepped care model for prevention of psychosocial distress (especially posttraumatic stress) after injury. The model includes screening for risk, standard follow-up with those at risk, and additional evidence-based interventions matched to individual need.

The study will evaluate the impact of the intervention on psychosocial outcomes (PTSD and depression symptoms); as well as health outcomes (adherence to discharge instructions, health-related quality of life), and will provide preliminary data to inform cost-effectiveness analyses by describing the costs of providing the intervention and examining its impact on subsequent health service utilization.

Study Design: 180 children at risk for persistent psychosocial distress post-injury, based on a screening assessment, will be randomized to the Stepped Preventive Care intervention or usual care. An additional comparison group of 90 low risk children will also receive usual care and be followed for assessment.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stress Disorders, Posttraumatic
03

In context

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

2,239 studies on the registry are indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; 554 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 290 is above the median of 70 across 1,858 interventional studies indexed under Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic.

Browse Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic studies →

Lead sponsor

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is the lead sponsor of 480 studies on the registry; 85 are open to participants now.

Of its 28 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 22 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
8 Years to 17 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 8 to 17
  • Admitted to hospital for treatment of unintentional injury
  • Sufficient English fluency to participate in an interview
  • Family has access to a telephone (for telephone follow-up contacts)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  • Child's medical status or cognitive functioning precludes participating in an interview
  • Child has moderate to severe head injury, defined as Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) \<= 12
  • Child's injury involved family violence or abuse (physical or sexual)
  • No parent or guardian available to consent
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
290 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Stepped Preventive Care

    Receiving Stepped Preventive Care intervention - at least 2 brief assessments with nurse and/or social worker (1) during hospital admission , and (2) approximately 2 weeks post-discharge. Additional interventions provided as needed, based on manual.

    Behavioral: stepped preventive care

  • No intervention
    Treatment as usual

    Medical and psychosocial care per usual hospital protocols, which may include social work support.

Interventions

  • Behavioralstepped preventive care

    2 targeted assessments (T1: in hospital within a few days of injury; T2: two weeks post-discharge) are administered by nurse or social worker, and determine need for additional assistance modules. Additional modules include case management, care coordination, assistance with child and family coping with injury/distress, and trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) beginning at 4-6 weeks post-injury if needed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Weeks Post-injury

    The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) is a 24-item self-report instrument that yields both a continuous severity score and a determination of likely PTSD diagnostic status according to symptom presence. 17 items corresponding to of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV symptom criteria (and are assumed to yield a PTSD symptom severity score range 0-51) and 7 items assess impairment from those symptoms. The 17 symptom items were administered at baseline (prerandomization), with a score of 15 or greater considered a positive screen for PTSD risk (higher values represent more significant severity of and impairment from PTSD symptoms). The 24-item scale was administered at 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury to assess traumatic stress symptom outcomes.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Months Post-injury

    The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) is a 24-item self-report instrument that yields both a continuous severity score and a determination of likely PTSD diagnostic status according to symptom presence. 17 items corresponding to DSM-IV symptom criteria (and are assumed to yield a PTSD symptom severity score range 0-51) and 7 items assess impairment from those symptoms. The 17 symptom items were administered at baseline (prerandomization), with a score of 15 or greater considered a positive screen for PTSD risk (higher values represent more significant severity of and impairment from PTSD symptoms). The 24-item scale was administered at 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury to assess traumatic stress symptom outcomes.

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Wks Post-injury

    The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a 20-item self-report measure of depression symptoms that yields a total severity score (range 0-60) . Clinical cut-off scores (≥16 for adults and ≥24 for youth) have been empirically established. Higher values represent more significant severity of symptoms of depression. The CES-D has been validated in adults and children 10 and over as an effective screen for depression. The CES-D was administered at baseline (prerandomization), 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Mos Post-injury

    The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a 20-item self-report measure of depression symptoms that yields a total severity score (range 0-60) . Clinical cut-off scores (≥16 for adults and ≥24 for youth) have been empirically established. Higher values represent more significant severity of symptoms of depression. The CES-D has been validated in adults and children 10 and over as an effective screen for depression. The CES-D was administered at baseline (prerandomization), 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury.

    Time frame: 6 months

  3. Health-related Quality of Life 6 Weeks and 6 Months Post-injury

    The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory is a well-validated measure of child health-related quality of life. Children completed the measure at baseline to report preinjury functioning and at 6-weeks and 6-months postinjury regarding current functioning. Current analyses utilize the 8-item Physical health/Physical functioning subscale. Scores range from 0-100; higher scores indicate better functioning outcomes.

    Time frame: 6 months

  4. Adherence With Medical Discharge Instructions

    The Health Care Questionnaire for Parents, created for this study, will assess health services utilized post-injury, adherence with specific discharge instructions (e.g., attendance at recommended follow-up appointments), as well as the number of days missed from work (parent) or school (child) related to the injury. Outcome variables to assess adherence will be dichotomized (e.g., attended scheduled appt? yes / no). The Health Care Questionnaire for Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) will assess primary care providers' contacts with study participants, including whether psychosocial concerns were identified since the injury.

    Time frame: 6 months

  5. Health Service Utilization Over the 6 Months Post-injury

    Medical records were used as the primary source of service utilization data; parent report supplemented this information if records were unavailable.

    Time frame: 6 months

07

Results

Posted Apr 20, 2015

Participant flow

Potentially eligible injured patients were identified from patient census and administration lists (n=1330; April 2007 - October 2008). Of 845 eligible children, 149 refused participation, 406 were not approached, usually due to limited parent availability.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneInterventionUsual Care
Started4639
Completed4034
Not completed65
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up65

Outcome measures

PrimaryPTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Weeks Post-injury

The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) is a 24-item self-report instrument that yields both a continuous severity score and a determination of likely PTSD diagnostic status according to symptom presence. 17 items corresponding to of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV symptom criteria (and are assumed to yield a PTSD symptom severity score range 0-51) and 7 items assess impairment from those symptoms. The 17 symptom items were administered at baseline (prerandomization), with a score of 15 or greater considered a positive screen for PTSD risk (higher values represent more significant severity of and impairment from PTSD symptoms). The 24-item scale was administered at 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury to assess traumatic stress symptom outcomes.

Time frame:
6 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · Units on a scale
PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Weeks Post-injury
Units on a scaleInterventionUsual Care
PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Weeks Post-injury12.6 ± 10.213.6 ± 10.7
Statistical analysis
  • Intervention vs Usual Care · t-test, 2 sided · p = .69
PrimaryPTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Months Post-injury

The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) is a 24-item self-report instrument that yields both a continuous severity score and a determination of likely PTSD diagnostic status according to symptom presence. 17 items corresponding to DSM-IV symptom criteria (and are assumed to yield a PTSD symptom severity score range 0-51) and 7 items assess impairment from those symptoms. The 17 symptom items were administered at baseline (prerandomization), with a score of 15 or greater considered a positive screen for PTSD risk (higher values represent more significant severity of and impairment from PTSD symptoms). The 24-item scale was administered at 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury to assess traumatic stress symptom outcomes.

Time frame:
6 months
Reported as:
Mean · Units on a scale
PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Months Post-injury
Units on a scaleInterventionUsual Care
PTSD Symptoms in Children 6 Months Post-injury12.6 ± 11.612.2 ± 9.7
Statistical analysis
  • Intervention vs Usual Care · t-test, 2 sided · p = .89
SecondaryDepression Symptoms in Children 6 Wks Post-injury

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a 20-item self-report measure of depression symptoms that yields a total severity score (range 0-60) . Clinical cut-off scores (≥16 for adults and ≥24 for youth) have been empirically established. Higher values represent more significant severity of symptoms of depression. The CES-D has been validated in adults and children 10 and over as an effective screen for depression. The CES-D was administered at baseline (prerandomization), 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury.

Time frame:
6 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · Units on a scale
Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Wks Post-injury
Units on a scaleInterventionUsual Care
Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Wks Post-injury15.0 ± 10.714.0 ± 10.8
Statistical analysis
  • Intervention vs Usual Care · t-test, 2 sided · p = .69
SecondaryDepression Symptoms in Children 6 Mos Post-injury

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is a 20-item self-report measure of depression symptoms that yields a total severity score (range 0-60) . Clinical cut-off scores (≥16 for adults and ≥24 for youth) have been empirically established. Higher values represent more significant severity of symptoms of depression. The CES-D has been validated in adults and children 10 and over as an effective screen for depression. The CES-D was administered at baseline (prerandomization), 6 weeks and 6 months postinjury.

Time frame:
6 months
Reported as:
Mean · Units on a scale
Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Mos Post-injury
Units on a scaleInterventionUsual Care
Depression Symptoms in Children 6 Mos Post-injury15.6 ± 13.811.6 ± 9.9
Statistical analysis
  • Intervention vs Usual Care · t-test, 2 sided · p = .18
SecondaryHealth-related Quality of Life 6 Weeks and 6 Months Post-injury

The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory is a well-validated measure of child health-related quality of life. Children completed the measure at baseline to report preinjury functioning and at 6-weeks and 6-months postinjury regarding current functioning. Current analyses utilize the 8-item Physical health/Physical functioning subscale. Scores range from 0-100; higher scores indicate better functioning outcomes.

Time frame:
6 months

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

SecondaryAdherence With Medical Discharge Instructions

The Health Care Questionnaire for Parents, created for this study, will assess health services utilized post-injury, adherence with specific discharge instructions (e.g., attendance at recommended follow-up appointments), as well as the number of days missed from work (parent) or school (child) related to the injury. Outcome variables to assess adherence will be dichotomized (e.g., attended scheduled appt? yes / no). The Health Care Questionnaire for Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) will assess primary care providers' contacts with study participants, including whether psychosocial concerns were identified since the injury.

Time frame:
6 months

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

SecondaryHealth Service Utilization Over the 6 Months Post-injury

Medical records were used as the primary source of service utilization data; parent report supplemented this information if records were unavailable.

Time frame:
6 months

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Adverse events

Collected over 6 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Intervention—0/46 (0%)0/46 (0%)
Usual Care—0/39 (0%)0/39 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)InterventionUsual CareTotal
<=18 years463985
Between 18 and 65 years000
>=65 years000
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)InterventionUsual CareTotal
Mean11.2 ± 2.211.9 ± 2.711.5 ± 2.5
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)InterventionUsual CareTotal
Female231134
Male232851
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)InterventionUsual CareTotal
United States463985
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Kassam-Adams N, Garcia-Espana JF, Marsac ML, Kohser KL, Baxt C, Nance M, Winston F. A pilot randomized controlled trial assessing secondary prevention of traumatic stress integrated into pediatric trauma care. J Trauma Stress. 2011 Jun;24(3):252-9. doi: 10.1002/jts.20640. Epub 2011 May 18. PubMed 21594900 ↗
10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 20, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00451282
Lead sponsor
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Collaborators
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 23, 2007
Start date
Apr 2007
Primary completion
Jun 2009
Completion
Jun 2009
Results posted
Apr 20, 2015
Last update
Apr 20, 2015

Study contacts

Nancy Kassam-Adams, PhD
principal investigator · Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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