An online psychosocial intervention for young people with appearance-altering conditions (YP Face IT)

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
One in 44 young people (YP) have a visible difference ('disfigurement') as a result of injuries (e.g. burns), treatment (e.g. cancer treatment), skin conditions (e.g. psoriasis), or conditions from birth (e.g. birthmarks). ‘Looking different’ can have a great effect in a society with a huge emphasis on appearance. About one third experience difficulties like bullying, social anxiety, body image dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, which impact on social presence, health behaviours and academic performance. If not addressed, social anxiety and body image dissatisfaction can lead to conditions including anxiety, depression and eating disorders in adulthood. Research shows YP need self-management skills as an alternative or addition to medical/surgical solutions, but evidence-based psychosocial interventions are rare and access to such services is limited. In collaboration with YP, we have developed an online intervention (YP Face It: www.ypfaceit.co.uk) based on our effective adult programme. Using illustrations, videos and interactive activities it provides advice and teaches coping skills based on cognitive behavioural therapy and social skills training. It aims to reduce social anxiety and appearance-related distress. In this study, we are evaluating the intervention before conducting a large-scale study.

Who can participate?
Sixty young people (aged 12-17) with an appearance-altering condition will be eligible to take part.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive normal care or normal care plus the YP Face It online intervention. Young people will participate in the study for 1 year. If they are allocated to receive YP Face IT they will be asked to do seven sessions on a home computer or tablet. They will do one session a week. Each session takes 40-50 minutes and young people will also need to practice new skills during the week. At the start, middle and end of the year, you will fill in questionnaires about how you are and what kind of things you do. Three months into the study, some young people (not all) will be asked to talk about what it’s been like being in the study so far. After a year, some young people (not all) will be asked about what it was like being in the study.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We hope this important study will help us to find out the best way to support young people who are worried about the way they look and to help them to live a full and happy life. Many young people enjoy taking part in research and feel that it is worthwhile helping researchers to find ways to support young people like them. The difficulties or risks in taking part are that young people need to give up time to do the questionnaires and interviews. If they are in the YP Face IT group they will need to do all the sessions as well. There is also a possibility that young people may find parts of it hard work as it talks about common worries such as being teased and asks them to think about appearance worries. However, if young people are unhappy with any part of the research or have any worries you can talk to the lead researcher or the Clinical Psychologist, who is an expert in providing support to young people with appearance concerns.

Where is the study run from?
GP practices in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Wiltshire and Swindon will be helping recruit young people to the study.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study starts in July 2014 and is expected to run until June 2016.

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK).

Who is the main contact?
Dr Heidi Williamson
heidi3.williamson@uwe.ac.uk

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• England
• United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Sponsor information

University of the West of England (UK)
University/education

Frenchay Campus
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1QY
England
United Kingdom

"ROR"	https://ror.org/02nwg5t34

Funders

Funder type

Government

Results and Publications

Study outputs

Editorial Notes

25/11/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number was added from the reference.