Development and Pre-Feasibility Testing of SPECIFiC: A Psychoeducation Programme for Caregivers of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Abstract

A growing number of evidence-based services are available for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), but few focus on caregiver psychoeducation. Despite new guidance in the UK requiring FASD services, the evidence base for effective interventions is currently lacking. An FASD caregiver training program would be a novel and valuable addition to service provision. SPECIFiC (Salford parents and carers education course for improvements in FASD outcomes in children) was developed using an evidence-based logic model with input from clinicians, families, and the charity sector. The course was delivered online to a small number (n = 9) of families in a mixed-methods, exploratory pre-feasibility study. Families were represented by either one or two caregivers, all of whom were adoptive parents or special guardians of a child with FASD. Parent perceptions were assessed using semi-structured interviews. The performance of proposed outcome measures (stress, psychological functioning, parenting self-efficacy, knowledge of FASD, and child behavioral difficulties) was evaluated. Pre- and post-measures were acceptable and showed promise as outcome measures for a future trial. Participants spoke positively about the course, welcomed the opportunity to discuss their own situations with other FASD caregivers, found the advice to be immediately useful, and described the course as therapeutic. Suggestions for improvements tended to focus on timing and technical issues. Based on a small sample, SPECIFiC was shown to be an acceptable and feasible psychoeducation program. Further evidence from a randomized controlled trial is needed to evaluate whether SPECIFiC can lead to reduced stress in parents, improved parenting self-efficacy, and ultimately a reduction in children’s behavioral difficulties.