Virtual Self-Management Program for JIA

Summary

The aim of this project is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a virtual group based self-management program (SMP) in adolescents with JIA across different provinces compared to a wait-list control group receiving only standard of care. Participants in the SMP group will partake in four 60-90 minute group sessions conducted over 8 weeks. The intervention is a multifaceted program that includes JIA disease education, self-management strategies, and peer support. Both the interventional and control group will be asked to complete baseline and post-test measures. Participants in the control group will be offered the SMP after completion of the post-control outcome measures.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17
2. Confirmed diagnosis within 2 years according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology JIA classification criteria (2)
3. Followed in one of the pediatric rheumatology clinics participating in the RCT
4. Able to access the Internet on a computer
5. Willing and able to complete online measures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Insufficient English reading and speaking skills
2. Untreated psychiatric or comorbid disorders or major cognitive impairments leading to inability to understand materials and participate in the SMP group activities.
3. Other chronic conditions such as other autoimmune disease, neurologic, orthopedics or other systems disorder (e.g. heart, kidney) that might influence outcome assessments
4. Past participation in the last year or participating in another peer-support or self-management program

Conditions2

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