A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive

Background/aim. In South Africa, contextual factors have been identified as barriers to outdoor, unstructured play. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and resulting progressive HIV encephalopathy (PHE) is a pandemic in this area, associated with development delays that are not addressed by highl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elelwani Ramugondo, Anande Ferreira, Donna Chung, Reinie Cordier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Occupational Therapy International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3652529
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850158262449602560
author Elelwani Ramugondo
Anande Ferreira
Donna Chung
Reinie Cordier
author_facet Elelwani Ramugondo
Anande Ferreira
Donna Chung
Reinie Cordier
author_sort Elelwani Ramugondo
collection DOAJ
description Background/aim. In South Africa, contextual factors have been identified as barriers to outdoor, unstructured play. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and resulting progressive HIV encephalopathy (PHE) is a pandemic in this area, associated with development delays that are not addressed by highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). This study aimed to describe the playfulness in children with HIV and PHE on HAART living in challenging socioeconomic areas in South Africa aged 6 months to 8 years and to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a play-informed, caregiver-implemented, home-based intervention (PICIHBI) for improving play. Methods. A feasibility randomized control trial allowed for comparison of PICIHBI and conventional one-on-one occupational therapy interventions. Children were filmed playing pre-, mid-, and postintervention, using the Test of Playfulness (ToP) to assess playfulness. The PICIHBI comprised of 10 monthly sessions facilitated by an occupational therapist, involving group discussions with caregivers and periods of experiential play. Results. Twenty-four children with HIV and/or PHE were randomized into one of the two intervention groups. Overall, the group (n=24) had a median score of 0 (lowest item score) on nine of 24 ToP items and only had a median score of 3 (highest score) on two items. Pre- to postintervention overall ToP scores improved marginally for the PICIHBI group (n=12) and the conventional group (n=12). Between-group differences were not significant. The PICIHBI group demonstrated a significant increase in one ToP item score at midassessment. No significant ToP item changes were found in the conventional group. Conclusion. Children with HIV were found to have the most difficulty on ToP items relating to the play elements of internal control and freedom from constraints of reality. The PICIHBI did not significantly improve children’s play and was not more effective than the conventional intervention. Considerations for feasibility and effectiveness, including barriers to attendance, are discussed.
format Article
id doaj-art-69ee599abd764ef2bbad8cac01cb693c
institution OA Journals
issn 0966-7903
1557-0703
language English
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Occupational Therapy International
spelling doaj-art-69ee599abd764ef2bbad8cac01cb693c2025-08-20T02:23:56ZengWileyOccupational Therapy International0966-79031557-07032018-01-01201810.1155/2018/36525293652529A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV PositiveElelwani Ramugondo0Anande Ferreira1Donna Chung2Reinie Cordier3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South AfricaDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South AfricaSchool of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth 6012, AustraliaSchool of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth 6012, AustraliaBackground/aim. In South Africa, contextual factors have been identified as barriers to outdoor, unstructured play. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and resulting progressive HIV encephalopathy (PHE) is a pandemic in this area, associated with development delays that are not addressed by highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). This study aimed to describe the playfulness in children with HIV and PHE on HAART living in challenging socioeconomic areas in South Africa aged 6 months to 8 years and to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a play-informed, caregiver-implemented, home-based intervention (PICIHBI) for improving play. Methods. A feasibility randomized control trial allowed for comparison of PICIHBI and conventional one-on-one occupational therapy interventions. Children were filmed playing pre-, mid-, and postintervention, using the Test of Playfulness (ToP) to assess playfulness. The PICIHBI comprised of 10 monthly sessions facilitated by an occupational therapist, involving group discussions with caregivers and periods of experiential play. Results. Twenty-four children with HIV and/or PHE were randomized into one of the two intervention groups. Overall, the group (n=24) had a median score of 0 (lowest item score) on nine of 24 ToP items and only had a median score of 3 (highest score) on two items. Pre- to postintervention overall ToP scores improved marginally for the PICIHBI group (n=12) and the conventional group (n=12). Between-group differences were not significant. The PICIHBI group demonstrated a significant increase in one ToP item score at midassessment. No significant ToP item changes were found in the conventional group. Conclusion. Children with HIV were found to have the most difficulty on ToP items relating to the play elements of internal control and freedom from constraints of reality. The PICIHBI did not significantly improve children’s play and was not more effective than the conventional intervention. Considerations for feasibility and effectiveness, including barriers to attendance, are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3652529
spellingShingle Elelwani Ramugondo
Anande Ferreira
Donna Chung
Reinie Cordier
A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
Occupational Therapy International
title A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
title_full A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
title_fullStr A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
title_full_unstemmed A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
title_short A Feasibility RCT Evaluating a Play-Informed, Caregiver-Implemented, Home-Based Intervention to Improve the Play of Children Who Are HIV Positive
title_sort feasibility rct evaluating a play informed caregiver implemented home based intervention to improve the play of children who are hiv positive
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3652529
work_keys_str_mv AT elelwaniramugondo afeasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT anandeferreira afeasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT donnachung afeasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT reiniecordier afeasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT elelwaniramugondo feasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT anandeferreira feasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT donnachung feasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive
AT reiniecordier feasibilityrctevaluatingaplayinformedcaregiverimplementedhomebasedinterventiontoimprovetheplayofchildrenwhoarehivpositive