Promoting Consistent Shoe Use Among Children At High Risk for Podoconiosis

Background: Podoconiosis is a debilitating condition affecting one million people in Ethiopia. Podoconiosis is preventable if those at genetically high risk consistently protected their feet from exposure to silica nanoparticles present in clay soil. Despite the efforts of a local Non-Government Organization (NGO) the Mossy Foot Prevention & Treatment Association (MFTPA) to distribute shoes to podoconiosis patients and their children, use of footwear is intermittent. This protocol proposes a collaboration among faculty from NHGRI, Addis Ababa University, and the MFTPA to develop and test intervention approaches that have the potential to be sustained by the community, to motivate children from families affected by podoconiosis to consistently wear shoes.

Objective: The three primary aims are to: (1) use qualitative assessment strategies to explore factors influencing shoe use among high-risk children; (2) use these findings to develop culturally-tailored intervention modules; and (3) evaluate in a randomized trial the individual and joint effects of the intervention modules in encouraging high-risk children to consistently wear shoes.

Population: Children (ages 9 -15) from families affected by podoconiosis who are participating in shoe distributions in one of 13 communities in the Wolaita zone of Ethiopia served by MFTPA.

Methods: Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED approach to planning, implementing and evaluating public health programs, a two-phase study is proposed.

Phase 1 will employ qualitative methods including participant observation, extended case studies, key-informant interviews and focus group discussions in a sample of 4 communities to gain understanding of the factors that influence shoe wear among high-risk children. Informed by these results, content for two modules (an enhanced education module and a role model support module) will be developed with the aim to motivate consistent use of footwear.

Phase 2 will evaluate the individual and joint effectiveness of the two intervention modules in a randomized 2 x 2 factorial design with communities assigned randomly to one of 4 intervention conditions: (GP1) no enhanced health education and no role model support (usual care), (GP2) enhanced health education without role model support, (GP3) no enhanced health education with role model support, and (GP4) enhanced health education and role model support. All children receive shoes. Children will be surveyed at baseline, 3-5 days after shoe distribution, and again, 3- and 6- months post baseline.

Outcomes: The primary outcome is a composite of direct observation of shoe use, self-reported shoe use, and baseline-to-follow-up changes in the children s foot appearance based on a visual foot exam.

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Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

Background: Podoconiosis is a debilitating condition affecting one million people in Ethiopia. Podoconiosis is preventable if those at genetically high risk consistently protected their feet from exposure to silica nanoparticles present in clay soil. Despite the efforts of a local Non-Government Organization (NGO) the Mossy Foot Prevention & Treatment Association (MFTPA) to distribute shoes to podoconiosis patients and their children, use of footwear is intermittent. This protocol proposes a collaboration among faculty from NHGRI, Addis Ababa University, and the MFTPA to develop and test intervention approaches that have the potential to be sustained by the community, to motivate children from families affected by podoconiosis to consistently wear shoes.

Objective: The three primary aims are to: (1) use qualitative assessment strategies to explore factors influencing shoe use among high-risk children; (2) use these findings to develop culturally-tailored intervention modules; and (3) evaluate in a randomized trial the individual and joint effects of the intervention modules in encouraging high-risk children to consistently wear shoes.

Population: Children (ages 9 -15) from families affected by podoconiosis who are participating in shoe distributions in one of 13 communities in the Wolaita zone of Ethiopia served by MFTPA.

Methods: Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED approach to planning, implementing and evaluating public health programs, a two-phase study is proposed.

Phase 1 will employ qualitative methods including participant observation, extended case studies, key-informant interviews and focus group discussions in a sample of 4 communities to gain understanding of the factors that influence shoe wear among high-risk children. Informed by these results, content for two modules (an enhanced education module and a role model support module) will be developed with the aim to motivate consistent use of footwear.

Phase 2 will evaluate the individual and joint effectiveness of the two intervention modules in a randomized 2 x 2 factorial design with communities assigned randomly to one of 4 intervention conditions: (GP1) no enhanced health education and no role model support (usual care), (GP2) enhanced health education without role model support, (GP3) no enhanced health education with role model support, and (GP4) enhanced health education and role model support. All children receive shoes. Children will be surveyed at baseline, 3-5 days after shoe distribution, and again, 3- and 6- months post baseline.

Outcomes: The primary outcome is a composite of direct observation of shoe use, self-reported shoe use, and baseline-to-follow-up changes in the children s foot appearance based on a visual foot exam.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

2106

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

      • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
        • School of Public Health Addis Ababa University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

7 years to 13 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Children 9-15 years of age who have been identified to participate in the MFTPA shoe distribution.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Children younger than 9 or older than 15
  • Children who show clinical evidence of podoconiosis or have confirmed diagnosis of another pathology that might affect participation in study activities (for example tuberculosis)
  • Children for whom we are unable to gain parental permission.

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

  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

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

June 14, 2010

Study Completion

April 14, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 9, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 9, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

July 12, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 17, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 14, 2019

Last Verified

April 14, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 999910142
  • 10-HG-N142

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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