The SUPPORT Study: Supporting Caregivers with a mobile app for children who stammer aged 8–12 years: A mixed method, randomised controlled, open label, multi-centre study to investigate the feasibility and acceptance of the Super Penguin mobile application plus usual care compared to usual care alone in families of children aged 8-12 years old who stammer
Stammer
This project is a multi-centre, two-arm, mixed-methods, open-label randomised controlled feasibility study. We will recruit 34 parents or main caregivers of 8- to 12-year-old children who have been referred to NHS speech-and-language therapy (SLT) for stammering. After giving consent, each caregiver is randomly allocated—by computer, in a 1:1 ratio—to either (a) a control group that follows standard NHS SLT only or (b) an intervention group that follows the same NHS SLT plus receives free access to the SuperPenguin mobile app, which provides practical activities and guidance for supporting their child at home. Because families will know whether they are using the app, there is no blinding. Participation in the study will be for a maximum of 11 months and fits entirely around normal SLT appointments; no extra clinic visits are added. Caregivers complete the same online questionnaires at four points: (1) up to two months before therapy begins (baseline and randomisation), (2) on the day therapy starts, (3) roughly four months later—or sooner if therapy finishes early—and (4) five months after that. The questionnaires cover parental confidence (PPRS), therapy goals (SFBT), quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) and service-use costs; the child’s SLT also records a routine rating (TOMs) at points 2-4. Intervention-group parents complete one additional usability survey (MAUQ) about the app. Alongside these quantitative measures, an embedded qualitative study will invite up to 10 caregivers, 10 children and 10 SLTs to take part in voluntary Microsoft Teams interviews (30–45 minutes) to explore the app’s usability, acceptability and the practicality of the study procedures; some participants may have a follow-up chat later.
Main feasibility study: 1. Caregivers must be 18 years or over 2. Their child has been referred for speech and language therapy for stammering and has been assessed as requiring access to speech and language therapy in line with usual practice. Their child is 8-12 years old. Qualitative interviews: 1. Caregivers are taking part in the feasibility study and have been randomised to access the app. Are able to conduct online interviews in English. 2. Speech and language therapists who have randomised participants to access the app and can complete an online interview in English. 3. Children aged 8-12 years whose caregiver has been randomised to access the app. Are able to conduct an adult-led speaking activity in English. Has been referred for speech and language therapy support for stammering.
Main feasibility study: 1. Caregivers are unable to provide informed consent. Are unable or unwilling to complete study assessments in English. 2. Families with more than one child who stammers, 8-12 years old, and both have been referred for therapy. Qualitative interviews: 1. Caregivers are unable to give informed consent. 2. Speech and language therapists who are unable to give informed consent. 3. Children whose caregiver has not provided informed consent for their participation in the interviews.