NCT03165331

Online Psychosocial Support for Young People With a Visible Difference: A Randomised Control Study

Online Psychosocial Support for Young People Distressed by Appearance-altering Conditions: A Randomised Control Trial (RCT)

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 130 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Oslo University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

A visible difference can have a profound impact in a society with a massive emphasis on appearance and "looks". A vulnerable group is adolescents with a condition affecting their appearance as a result of injuries (burns, accidents), treatment (cancer), skin conditions or congenital anomalies (birthmarks, craniofacial conditions). Research has identified potential psychological difficulties, which, if not addressed, can lead to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. In addition to medical treatment options, aiming at diminishing a difference that may be visible to others, young people with appearance concerns also need self-management skills. However, evidence-based interventions are scarce and specialised psychological treatment is difficult to reach. The Centre for Appearance Research (Bristol, UK) has developed an online intervention for adolescents, now translated into Norwegian (www.ungfaceit.no). UNG Face IT provides easy access to specialist advice and support via a home computer, using information, videos, and interactive activities. It provides advice, teaches coping and social skills, strengthening psychological adjustment to a visible difference. A systematic evaluation of the Norwegian version is needed. UNG Face IT could potentially address unmet needs, provide a cost-effective tool to reduce the need for "face-to-face" psychological and surgical/medical services, and contribute to make online health care available for young people with a visible difference.

Conditions

• Skin Condition
• Cleft Lip and Palate
• Burns
• Other Conditions Leading to a Visible Difference
• Craniofacial Abnormalities

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Ung Face IT	Ung Face IT is an online intervention tool (programme) that provides easy access to specialist advice and support via a home computer/tablet, using illustrations, information, videos, and interactive activities, and a discussion forum for participants only (supervised by the research team). Through these tools, it provides advice and teaches coping skills based on cognitive behavioural therapy and social interaction skills training.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-04-01
• Primary completion: 2021-06-30
• Completion: 2023-09-30
• First posted: 2017-05-24
• Last updated: 2023-03-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Norway