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NCT Number: NCT07350395

Exploring and Measuring the Impact of Steroids in Children and Young People

Assessing the impact of glucocorticoids in children and young people with rheumatic conditions, to develop a patient reported outcome measure (PROM).

Glucocorticoids, also known as steroids, are a very effective medication for the treatment of rheumatological conditions. They are used to reduce inflammation, pain and damage to organs. However, steroids can have some unwanted side effects, such as, increased weight, skin changes, feeling anxious, delayed puberty, diabetes and loss of bone mass. These side effects can therefore impact children and young people's health related quality of life (HRQoL).

The investigators would like to create a new questionnaire for children and young people (CYP) who take steroids due to their rheumatological condition. The questionnaire, called a Patient Reported Outcome Measure, (PROM), will measure how steroids are affecting CYP. The first step in creating the questionnaire is to talk to children, young people and their parents/guardians about their experiences of taking steroids. The investigators plan to do this in focus groups, with people around the same age. The second step will then be to take everything people said in the focus group to create the questions in the questionnaire. Cognitive interviewing will then be used in a structured one on one interview to test for relevance, clarity and understanding of the questions.

Children, young people and their parents/guardians will be involved throughout the research. Children and young people will give their thoughts and feedback on resources created for participants (consent forms/assent forms/participation information sheet/interview schedule), as well as how the focus groups and cognitive interviews should be structured.

With consent, participants will be provided with a lay summary of the results. Results will also be published within peer-reviewed journals, special interest groups, trial meetings, patient charity meetings and presented at conferences.

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Key information

Conditions

Rheumatic Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Disorder Rheumatologic Conditions (JRA,Lupus) Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

Up to 18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, North Somerset, United Kingdom

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 1. Rheumatology patients aged 0 to18 years old. 2. Patients should have capacity to assent or consent immediately prior to the interview.
  • The patient should have a good understanding of spoken and written English be able to understand the participant information sheets, assent/consent forms.
  • Treatment with glucocorticoids with intravenous or oral glucocorticoids for an autoimmune or inflammatory condition within the previous two years (or longer duration).

Parents/guardians:

  • Parents (mother/ father) or legal guardians of rheumatological patients fulfilling criteria 1-4 above.
  • Parents or legal guardians should have capacity to consent for themselves (+/- their child) immediately prior to the interview.
  • The parents or legal guardians should have a good understanding of spoken and written English be able to understand the participant information sheets, assent/consent forms.

Exclusion criteria

  • 1. Rheumatology patients who are more than 18 years of age. 2. Patients who do not have capacity to assent or consent immediately prior to the interview.
  • Patient who have insufficient understanding of spoken and written English be able to understand the participant information sheets, assent/consent forms.
  • Patients who either have never taken steroids or have not taken steroids within the last two years as part of their treatment plan for their rheumatological condition.
  • Relative is not a parent or legal guardian. 6. Parents/guardians of rheumatology patients fulfilling any of the exclusion criteria above.
  • Parents/guardians who do not have capacity to assent or consent immediately prior to the interview.
  • Parents/guardians who have insufficient understanding of spoken and written English be able to understand the participant information sheets, assent/consent forms.
  • Parents/guardians of rheumatology patients who have never taken steroids or have not taken steroids within the last two years as part of their treatment plan for their rheumatological condition.
  • Membership of the steering committee

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. To explore the impact of glucocorticoids (steroids) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in CYP.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.

    To develop a long list of potential questionnaire items for one or more patient reported outcome measures (PRO) for children and young people, who are treated with glucocorticoids, which assesses its impact of this treatment on their symptoms and everyday life.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Secondary analysis of specific topics of greatest importance to patients and families may be performed based on anonymised qualitative dataset from objective 1

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.

    Secondary analyses may in future also be used to explore specific topics of importance within the qualitative data, depending on what emerges as of greatest importance (e.g. impact on appearance, sense of self).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Dr Jo Robson

CONTACT

[email protected]

+441173281973

Emily Barnes

CONTACT

[email protected]

+447747560680

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of the West of England

Other

Collaborators

  • Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
  • Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
  • Royal Hospital for Sick Children

Registry information

Official study title

Assessing the Impact of Glucocorticoids in Children and Young People With Rheumatic Conditions, to Develop a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM).

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 20, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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