Program Intensive Habilitation (PIH) for Young Children With Early Brain Damage (PIHMulti)

May 5, 2026 updated by: Jon Skranes, Sorlandet Hospital HF

Evaluation of a Norwegian Model of an Intensive Habilitation Program for Young Children With Early Brain Damage - a Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial.

By longitudinal, prospective research in children with neurodisabilities including severe motor impairments and their parents to explore the beneficial effects of participating in an intensive habilitation program on the child's adaptive functioning and parental empowerment in order to treat and reduce the consequences of early brain damage.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Evidence-based knowledge about the effects of intensive training programs for children with severe early brain damage is limited since research on this topic has methodological weaknesses and shows conflicting results. As intensive training programs require extensive efforts from the child, parents and professionals and represent major costs, the importance of scientifically proven effects is considerable. This research project aims to measure the effects of an intensive habilitation program for young children with severe early brain damage on the child's adaptive, motor, language and social functioning and on parental empowerment, family functioning and stress. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT) 90 children will be divided into an intervention group participating in a Norwegian developed program of intensified habilitation of 12 months duration and a control group, who will receive "services as usual" during the same time period. Between-group analyses will then be performed. Due to a stepped wedge design, the control participants will then be offered training in year two of participation. Within-group analysis of results before and after training will then be performed for all participants. Standardized measures with high responsiveness in documenting intervention effectiveness will be used as primary outcome measures. Intensive training groups will be offered in all Health Regions in Norway and if successful be implemented as standard clinical practice.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
93

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Norway
      • Kristiansand, Norway, 4626
        • Sørlandet hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

2 years to 7 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age 2 - 6 years at the start of the program
  • a diagnosis of severe cerebral palsy or similar motor disability of non-progressive etiology (GMFCS level IV-V),
  • being able to participate in group sessions
  • having parents who want to take an active part in their child's training
  • least one of the parents must speak fluent Norwegian or English.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • children with progressive disorders
  • co-morbidity like autism spectrum disorder, severe visual and hearing impairments or intractable epilepsy that worsen with physical activity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention group
Half of the study participants will be randomized to the intensive habilitation program the first year of program. The second year of program this group of participants will be offered habilitation "as usual".
Other: Program Intensified Habilitation
The program is based on a holistic and family-centered concept, which acknowledges parents as experts on their child's abilities and needs. The program involves both parents and local professionals, and includes goal setting and goal-directed treatment targeted to the needs of the individual child. The program lasts for about one year and contains three in-patient group sessions over 2 weeks. In between the children are receiving individualized home training programs at home and in pre-school/kindergarten. The children train on a daily basis, both during the inpatient sessions and in the home setting.
Other Names:
  • PIH Multi
Other: Habilitation as usual
When the participants are not joining the study year containing the intervention program, they will be offered habilitation services "as usual" administered by the primary health care services in the local community.
Other Names:
  • Control
Other: Control group
Half of the study participants will be randomized to "treatment as usual" the first year of program, then offered the intensive program during the second year ("stepped wedge design").
Other: Program Intensified Habilitation
The program is based on a holistic and family-centered concept, which acknowledges parents as experts on their child's abilities and needs. The program involves both parents and local professionals, and includes goal setting and goal-directed treatment targeted to the needs of the individual child. The program lasts for about one year and contains three in-patient group sessions over 2 weeks. In between the children are receiving individualized home training programs at home and in pre-school/kindergarten. The children train on a daily basis, both during the inpatient sessions and in the home setting.
Other Names:
  • PIH Multi
Other: Habilitation as usual
When the participants are not joining the study year containing the intervention program, they will be offered habilitation services "as usual" administered by the primary health care services in the local community.
Other Names:
  • Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT)
Time Frame: Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months
Primary evaluation measure for the child
Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months
Change in Family Empowerment Scale (FES)
Time Frame: Change from baseline measure at12 months and after 24 months
Primary evaluation measure for the parents
Change from baseline measure at12 months and after 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Gross motor function measure (GMFM-88)
Time Frame: Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months
Secondary evaluation measure for the child
Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months
Change in Parenting Stress Index (PSI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months
Secondary evaluation measure for the parents
Change from baseline measure at 12 months and after 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sorlandet Hospital HF

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University Hospital of North Norway
Haukeland University Hospital
St. Olavs Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jon Skranes, Sørlandet hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 10, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 28, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 13, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KlinBeForskSkranes

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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