The Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injury: Initial feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: Physical and psychological challenges can arise from paediatric injury, which can impact child health outcomes. Evidence-based resources to promote recovery are limited. The low cost, portable Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injury provides evidence-based strategies to help children manage injury-related challenges. This study aimed to describe intervention feasibility and explore initial outcomes (learning, quality of life [QOL], and trauma symptoms).

Methods: Three independent pilot studies were conducted. Child-parent dyads (n = 61) participated in the intervention; ~36% completed a 4-week follow-up assessment.

Results: Results suggested that the intervention was feasible (e.g., 95% of parents would recommend the intervention; >85% reported that it was easy to use). Over 70% of participants reported learning new skills. No statistically significant differences were detected for children's QOL or trauma symptoms preintervention to postintervention.

Conclusion: Preliminary research suggests that the Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injuries is a feasible, low-cost, preventive intervention, which may provide families with strategies to promote recovery from paediatric injury. Future research, including a randomized controlled trial, ought to further examine targeted long-term intervention outcomes.

Keywords: child injury; early intervention; parenting; posttraumatic stress; quality of life.