Evaluation of the teaching recovery techniques community-based intervention for accompanied refugee children experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial; ASsIST): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Filipa Sampaio,
Richard Ssegonja,
Inna Feldman,
Rachel Calam,
Georgina Warner,
Natalie Durbeej,
Raziye Salari,
Karin Fängström,
Elin Lampa,
Zaruhi Baghdasaryan,
Fatumo Osman,
Sandra Gupta Löfving,
Anna Perez Aronsson,
Anna Bjärtå,
Elisabet Rondung,
Anna Leiler,
Elisabet Wasteson,
Brit Oppedal,
Brooks Keeshin,
Anna Sarkadi
Affiliations
Filipa Sampaio
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Richard Ssegonja
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Inna Feldman
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Rachel Calam
Division of Clinical Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Georgina Warner
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Natalie Durbeej
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Raziye Salari
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Karin Fängström
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Elin Lampa
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Zaruhi Baghdasaryan
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Fatumo Osman
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Sandra Gupta Löfving
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Anna Perez Aronsson
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Anna Bjärtå
Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
Elisabet Rondung
Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
Anna Leiler
Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
Elisabet Wasteson
Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
Brit Oppedal
Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
Brooks Keeshin
Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Anna Sarkadi
Child Health and Parenting, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Background Refugee children have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue for years after resettlement. The Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial (ASsIST) aims to evaluate a community-based intervention, called ‘Teaching Recovery Techniques’ (TRT), for accompanied refugee minors experiencing PTSD symptoms.Methods/design A cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in which participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two possible arms: the intervention arm (n=113) will be offered the TRT programme and the waitlist-control arm (n=113) will receive services as usual, followed by the TRT programme around 20 weeks later. Outcome data will be collected at three points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2; c.8 weeks after randomisation) and follow-up (T3; c.20 weeks after randomisation).Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was granted by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala (Ref. 2018/382) (24th February 2019). Results will be published in scientific journals.Trial registration details ISRCTN17754931. Prospectively registered on 4th June 2019.
