A feasibility trial of Power Up
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility trial of UCL’s Power Up: A smartphone app to support\nyoung people to make shared decisions in therapy
IRAS ID
192592
Contact name
Miranda Wolpert
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN77194423
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/02/25 , UCL Data Protection Registration No.
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
There is an increasing demand for digital tools to empower young people with mental health difficulties (NHS England, 2015). Digital information, advice and mood tracking tools are increasingly being used to support child mental health.\nEvidence suggests that young people want to be active participants in their care and involved in decisions about their treatment. However, there is a lack of digital shared decision making tools available to support young people in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). \nThis study aims to develop UCL’s Power Up, a smartphone app to empower young people in CAMHS to make their voice heard and to participate more in decisions around their care. \nThe project will involve two phases:\n• Development Phase\n-Developing UCL’s Power Up according to the views and ideas expressed by young people, their parents/ carers, and clinicians in Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) sessions. \n-Conducting interviews and focus groups with up to 75 young people in CAMHS, their parents/ carers and clinicians to review the acceptability of the content and format of UCL’s Power Up. \n•Feasibility testing Phase\n-Conducting a feasibility trial with 180 young people with emotional difficulties, aged 11-19 years, from three London CAMHS. . Overall, 180 young people will be recruited from across three CAMHS; 90 will receive treatment as usual and 90 will use UCL’s Power Up alongside treatment as usual. Researchers will take informed consent prior to the young person’s initial assessments. Participant’s shared decision making behaviours, self-management, self-efficacy, symptoms and experience of services will be measured before their initial assessment, and 3 months later. \nThe findings will inform the planning of a prospective cluster controlled trial. More broadly this trial will contribute the development and implementation of a shared decision making app to be integrated into CAMHS.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0891
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion