Close
A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) for families of young children with intellectual disability.
What is E-PAtS?
Early Positive Approaches to Support (or E-PAtS for short) is a parent and caregiver support program for families who have a young child with additional developmental needs. This is sometimes referred to as intellectual disability, developmental delay, or learning disability. Family carers and professionals co-designed E-PAtS and deliver the program together. In E-PAtS, parents and caregivers are supported in a face to face group over 8 (2.5 hour) sessions. The program focuses on supporting wellbeing for parent and caregivers, support for their child's development and behaviour, and ways to access other services and support.
What is the E-PAtS RCT about?
We want to test if E-PAtS improves wellbeing for parents who have a child (18 months to 5 years) with additional needs and whether E-PAtS benefits children with additional needs and the wider family. We also want to see if E-PAtS is good value for money.
To find out if E-PAtS benefits families, the E-PAtS RCT will recruit around 450 families to either take part in E-PAtS immediately or be invited to receive E-PAtS in 12 months time. Whether a family attends E-PAtS immediately or in 12 months time will be determined at random, like tossing a coin. This is the best way of helping us find out if E-PAtS makes a difference to families.
Whether a family receives E-PAtS right away or in 12 months time, they will be asked to complete some questionnaires. First at the start of the study, then after 4 months, and then after 12 months. All family carers that take part will be offered a voucher each time they complete a questionnaire. This will be a £15 voucher for the questionnaire at the start, another £15 voucher for completing the questionnaire at 4 months, and a £30 voucher for completing the questionnaire at 12 months.
This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). More information about the study can also be found in NIHR’s website by clicking here.
