Long-Term Effect of Online Occupational Therapy-Based Parent Training on Feeding Problems in Infants

This study type is a clinical trial (randomized controlled longitudinal study). The primary purpose is to determine whether an online occupational therapy-based parent training program can prevent or reduce feeding problems, improve parental attitudes, and decrease parenting stress in mothers of infants.

The participant population includes female caregivers (mothers) of typically developing infants aged 18 to 24 months. All participants are healthy volunteers.

The main research questions this study aims to answer are:

Does online occupational therapy-based parent training reduce feeding problems in infants (e.g., food refusal, resistance, sensory-based rejection)? Does the training improve maternal attitudes related to feeding and reduce parenting-related stress? Comparison group: Researchers will compare the outcomes of mothers who receive the online training (intervention group) with those who receive no intervention (control group) to determine the effectiveness of the program.

Participants will be asked to:

Complete baseline assessment forms prior to randomization

If in the intervention group:

Attend a 4-week online group training program (one session per week) via a secure Zoom® platform Participate in follow-up assessments at 6 months and 12 months post-training

All participants (in both groups) will:

Complete standardized assessment tools at three time points (baseline, 6-month follow-up, 12-month follow-up), including:

Sociodemographic Information Form Infant Adaptive Feeding Behavior Scale Feeding Process Parental Attitude Scale Parenting Stress Scale

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Feeding Difficulties Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Feeding Problems Feeding and Eating Disorders Food Neophobia Mental Disorders

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ankara Medipol University

Ankara, Altındağ, 0650, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Mothers of typically developing infants aged between 18 and 24 months
Mothers who report a stress level of 7 or above on a visual analog scale regarding their child's feeding process
Mothers who have the necessary technical equipment to follow the occupational therapy training via online platforms

Exclusion criteria

Infants born prematurely or diagnosed with significant neurological or developmental conditions
Infants who receive any diagnosis during the intervention or follow-up period
Mothers in the intervention group who miss more than one training session
Mothers who are currently receiving or have previously received occupational therapy or feeding counseling

Treatment and study plan

Online occupational therapy group training

Behavioral

The intervention is a 4-week online parent training program based on occupational therapy principles, delivered via secure Zoom sessions once per week. Each session lasts approximately 60-75 minutes and focuses on topics such as feeding skill development, sensory-based feeding difficulties, responsive parenting strategies, and stress management techniques. The training includes interactive discussions and practical suggestions for daily feeding routines. Supporting materials, such as PDF slides and short demonstration videos, are shared with participants after each session. Attendance in at least three sessions is required to remain in the study.

Primary outcomes

Adaptive Eating Behavior in Infancy Scale

Time frame: T₀ - Baseline: Pre-training, first assessment after randomization T₁ - Post-intervention: Immediately after training completion T₂ - 6-month follow-up T₃ - 12-month follow-up

The Infant Adaptive Feeding Behavior Scale (IAFBS) was developed by Dilsiz and Dağ in 2018 to assess the eating behaviors of children aged 9 to 36 months. The scale consists of 20 items and four factors: "Reluctance," "Resistance," "Reaction to Main Meal Structure," and "Sensory-Related Food Refusal." Items 1-8 measure the reluctance factor; items 9-12 measure resistance; items 13-16 assess reactions to meal structure; and items 17-20 evaluate food refusal related to sensory issues.

Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "Never" to "Always," scored as follows: never = 1, rarely = 2, sometimes = 3, usually = 4, always = 5. However, item 2 ("reaches spontaneously for food during meals") reflects a positive feeding behavior and is reverse-scored. All other items are scored in the standard direction.

The total score ranges from 20 to 100. Higher total and subscale scores indicate more severe feeding behavior problems in infants aged 9 to 36 months.
Maternal Attitudes Scale in the Feeding Process

Time frame: T₀ - Baseline: Pre-training, first assessment after randomization T₁ - Post-intervention: Immediately after training completion T₂ - 6-month follow-up T₃ - 12-month follow-up

This scale was developed in 2018 by Dilsiz and Dağ with the aim of identifying problematic areas in maternal attitudes during the feeding process, based on the interactional dimension of feeding between the mother and child. The Feeding Process Parental Attitude Scale (FPPAS) is used to assess the feeding-related attitudes of mothers with children aged 9 to 72 months. It is a 5-point Likert-type scale with response options ranging from "Never" to "Always." The scale consists of 27 items and includes the following subscales: Negative Emotional State During Meals, Attitudes Toward Inadequate/Unbalanced Nutrition, Negative Feeding Strategies, Forceful Feeding, and Reaction to Others' Opinions. The total score ranges from 27 to 135. Higher scores on the total scale and subscales indicate a greater presence of problematic maternal attitudes regarding the feeding process.
Parental Stress Scale

Time frame: T₀ - Baseline: Pre-training, first assessment after randomization T₁ - Post-intervention: Immediately after training completion T₂ - 6-month follow-up T₃ - 12-month follow-up

The Parenting Stress Scale was developed by Aydoğan and Özbay in 2017 to measure the stress experienced by parents of typically developing children in relation to their parenting role. The scale consists of 18 items and has a single-factor structure that includes the parent, the parent-child relationship, and characteristics of the child. It is a Likert-type instrument rated from 0 ("Does not describe at all") to 4 ("Describes very well"). The total score ranges from 0 to 72, with higher scores indicating higher levels of parenting stress. The scale is easily applicable to parents who have at least one child and have completed primary education or higher.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara Medipol University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Long-Term Effect of Online Occupational Therapy-Based Parent Training on Feeding Problems in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Study

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jul 3, 2025
Registry last updated: Jan 21, 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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