Utilizing A Single Session Problem-Solving Intervention With Caregivers of Pediatric Patients Receiving Chronic Transfusion to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

In the event that research must be completed virtually due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions at the research site, an Ipad will be provided to participants by clinic staff to complete measures, through Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) and the intervention/control visits through a Children's Health-approved and HIPAA compliant telehealth platform. Due to continued changes in protocols, it is possible that participants may begin with in-person research and transition to virtual research, or vice versa. Patient list for chronic blood transfusion clinic will be reviewed weekly for eligible participants. Eligible participants will be approached at the start of their routine blood transfusion (which are part of their clinical care) appointment to minimize interference from sedative medications. The researcher will explain the study and answer questions related to participation. If the caregiver and youth choose to participate, written consent (and patient assent when appropriate) will be obtained. At visit one, both study groups will receive a baseline visit (V1), which will include completing measures, and participants will be provided a handout of community mental health resources to have for future reference if mental health needs arise. During visit two (V2), (typically occurs approximately 1 month after V1) caregivers in the intervention group will complete the Psychological Outcomes Profiles (PSYCHLOPS) measure, receive a single session problem-solving intervention to target an identified problem, and complete the Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile (AARP) at the end of the intervention. Problem to be targeted will be identified collaboratively by the researcher and the caregiver, after review of measures completed by the caregiver and youth participant during visit one. The control group will receive a visit from the researcher, in which the caregiver participant will complete the PSYCHLOPS measure. During visit three (V3), (typically occurs approximately 2 months after V1), both groups will complete the same measures from visit one, with the addition of all caregiver participants completing the PSYCLOPS measure. At this visit, caregivers in the intervention group will also receive a short review of the problem-solving strategy and address questions about the skill following completion of measures. The caregiver participants in the intervention group will complete the AARP at the end of the intervention review. At visit four (V4), (typically occurs approximately five months after V1) both groups will complete the same measures as visit one, in addition to the PSYCHLOPS measure, for longer-term follow up. In addition, the intervention group will complete the AARP. Virtual alternative for all visits: All study procedures will remain the same as stated above, except clinic staff will provide the handout of community mental health resources to participants and visits with both the Intervention Group and Control Group will be conducted through a Children's Health-approved telehealth platform. Aims and Hypotheses Aim 1: Determine the feasibility of utilizing a single-session problem solving intervention. Hypothesis 1: At least 70% of participants approached for this study will agree to enroll. Hypothesis 2: At least 70% of participants who start the study will be retained through V4. Aim 2: Determine the acceptability of a single-session problem solving intervention. Hypothesis 3: At least 70% of caregivers will find the single-session intervention to be acceptable at V3. Hypothesis 4: At least 70% of caregivers will find the single-session intervention to be acceptable at V4. Aim 3: Determine the efficacy of a single-session problem solving intervention at improving the selected problem. Hypothesis 5: The intervention group will report a greater decrease in difficulty associated with their identified problem \[Psychosocial Outcomes Profiles (PSYCHLOPS)\] over time (V3 and V4) compared to those in the control group. Hypothesis 6: The intervention group will report a greater decrease in psychosocial risk factor score \[Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT)\] over time as compared to the control group. Hypothesis 7: The intervention group will report a greater increase in quality of life \[Pediatrics Quality of Life\_ Sickle Cell Disease Module (PedsQL\_SCD Module)\], both patient and caregiver report) over time as compared to the control group.