Pilot Trial of a Peer-led Family and Social Strengthening Group Intervention for Refugee Families

Depression Clinical Trial

Official title:

Leveraging Implementation Science and Design Methods to Sustain Community-based Mental Health Services for Refugees

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06261463
• Other study ID #: 2023-0326
• Secondary ID: K01MH128524-01A1
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 1, 2024
• Est. completion date: September 2025

Study information

• Verified date: June 2024
• Source: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Contact: Mary Bunn, PhD
• Phone: (312) 355-2136
• Email: mbunn[@]uic.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The proposed study draws on prior research to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and explore preliminary effectiveness of Coffee and Family Education and Support, Version (CAFES2) using a pilot randomized type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation design. CAFES2 is a peer-led family and social strengthening multiple family group intervention that is designed to respond to multi-level needs of refugee families. Results of the trial will contribute to the emerging evidence base on family-based mental health interventions for refugee and newcomer communities. The trial will also generate new insights regarding implementation strategies needed to promote successful delivery of services by peer providers and the unique role of human-centered design practices for adaptation of mental health and psychosocial interventions.

Description:

In partnership with refugee service organizations in Chicago, the investigator explored the problems, strengths, and help-seeking preferences of refugee families. Qualitative findings indicated ongoing problems coping with stress, trauma and loss, strain and tension in family relationships and limited social support networks. Participants identified a need for family-focused, group-based services led by individuals with similar life experiences. Based on these findings, the investigators identified an evidence-based multiple-family group model, Coffee and Family Education and Support (CAFES) as a foundational model that could be adapted to meet the needs of refugee families. Drawing on this formative work and strong community partnerships, further research is needed to adapt CAFES to a new population, to reflect multi-level needs of families and for use by refugee peer facilitators in community-based organizations. Research is also needed to assess feasibility, acceptability and fidelity of model implementation, attentive to barriers and facilitators specific to peer-led mental health services and community settings. The investigators will use a pilot randomized type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation design to achieve the following specific research aims: Aim 1: To adapt the multiple family CAFES model for delivery by peers in community organizations using an implementation science adaptation framework and participatory human-centered design methods to develop an intervention that addresses the complex needs of refugee families. Aim 2: To pilot the adapted CAFES2 model to examine feasibility, acceptability and provider fidelity when implemented by refugee peers in two community-based organizations in Chicago. (n=74, 37 intervention, 37 control) Aim 3: To explore the impact of the adapted CAFES2 model compared to enhanced control on outcomes of adult and child mental health and family and community support and explore variables expected to mediate the intervention's impact.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 74
• Est. completion date: September 2025
• Est. primary completion date: August 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 12 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria for Families:

• being a resettled refugee family
• having one or more school-aged children aged 12 years and older living with them
• one family member (caregiver or youth) screens for moderate emotional distress

Inclusion Criteria for Adult Caregivers/Parents:

• between ages of 18-45 years old
• arrived to the U.S as a refugee
• have at least one child currently living with them

Inclusion Criteria for Youth:

• between ages of 12 and 17 years old)
• arrived as a refugee
• currently living with at least one caregiver.

Exclusion Criteria:

• not meeting the above inclusion criteria
• families or individual in the midst of a crisis (e.g. family crisis or mental health crisis)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Family Dynamics
• Family Relations
• PTSD
• Social Functioning

Intervention

Behavioral:
• CAFES2
The adapted CAFES2 model includes an initial home visit and six multiple family group sessions delivered by peer providers. Families include at least one caregiver and one youth 12 years or older. Key model components include: 1) interfamilial discussion of stressors affecting families and family relationships, 2) psychoeducation on the effects of war and forced displacement on individuals, families and social relationships; 3) emotion regulation and self management strategies; 4) identification and activation of family and social strengths, 5) discussion of family identity and hopes for the future in resettlement and 5) discussion of social and community resources to support health and wellbeing. Each group session incorporates didactic components, family and small group discussion, skill building and separate breakout groups for adolescents and adults.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Illinios Chicago	Chicago	Illinois

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Illinois at Chicago	National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Changes in acceptability of the intervention via the Acceptability of Intervention Mesure	4-item measure assess the degree to which the intervention is viewed as agreeable or satisfactory, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability	immediate post-intervention.
Other	Changes in feasibility of the intervention via the Feasibility of Intervention Measure	This 4-item measure assesses the degree to which a given intervention is viewed as feasible for a given population and setting. Higher scores are associated with greater degrees of perceived feasibility.	immediate post-intervention
Primary	Changes in PTSD symptoms via the PTSD Checklist (adult, exploratory)	PTSD Checklist utilizes a 5-point likert scale (0-4) to assess post traumatic stress symptoms. Higher scores indicate increasing levels of PTSD.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Primary	Changes in adult depression and anxiety via the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL, adult, exploratory)	HSCL measures symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults using a 4-point likert scale (1-4) with high scores indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Primary	Changes in youth depression and anxiety via the Arab Mental Health Scale (youth, exploratory)	This scale measures symptoms of anxiety and depression in youth using a 3-point likert scale (0-3). Total scores are associated with mild, moderate or severe anxiety or depression.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Primary	Changes in PTSD in children and youth via the Child Revised Impacted of Events Scale (CRIES, youth, exploratory)	CRIES is a measures to assess PTSD symptoms in children and youth. Higher total scores indicate higher PTSD symptoms.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Primary	Changes in post-migration stress in youth and adults via the Refugee Post-Migration Stress Scale	The post-migration stressors scale assess stress in youth and adults. Higher total scores indicate higher levels of stress.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Secondary	Changes in social support via the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey	This measure assesses diverse forms of social support using a 5-point likert scale. Higher overall scores indicate greater degree of available support.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Secondary	Changes in social interaction via the Duke Social Support Index, social interaction subscale	The Duke Social Support Index, social interaction subscale assesses diverse types of daily social interactions. Higher scores indicate greater degrees of social interaction.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Secondary	Changes in family support via the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS, Family Support Sub-scale)	Likert scale (1-7) that assesses degree of family support.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Secondary	Quality of the parent-child relationship via the Dimensions of Parenting Scale (sub-scale, warmth and responsiveness of parent-child relationship)	The Dimensions of Parent warmth and responsiveness sub-scale assess the nature and quality of the parent-child relationship.	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up
Secondary	Degree of family strengths and difficulties via the SCORE-15 (family strengths, family difficulties sub-scales	A 15-item question that assess family communication, strengths and difficulties with lower scores indicating higher levels of family strengths and higher scores more family difficulties	baseline, immediate post-intervention and 6-week follow up