The importance of having effective pediatric psychological interventions is hard to overstate, but when it comes to conducting clinical research on the best methods of treating young patients, researchers are faced with special challenges. Clinical pediatric settings are fast paced and are not designed for conducting research; the time burdens imposed by intervention research on providers and patients limit their ability to participate in studies; and the unique characteristics of the setting and populations increase variation in relevant clinical outcomes, limit prospects for experimental control, and can raise salient threats to the validity of conclusions based on the psychological intervention research that is actually conducted.
In an article appearing in the June 2014 issue of Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology (PDF, 60KB)opens in new window, Drotar, Cortina, Rohan, Somers, Hilliard, and Maddux explored the problems and considerations inherent in conducting psychological intervention research in pediatric clinical settings and discussed ways in which these problems can be met and mitigated or possibly overcome.
This table provides information on the studies the authors have conducted or are conducting. Their firsthand experience in pediatric intervention research was gained from these studies.
In the article, the authors recounted issues they encountered, carefully considered, and acted on while designing and implementing their practice-based psychological intervention research, such as balancing feasibility versus validity while designing the study, considering multiple approaches to study design and data analysis, identifying and managing ethical issues, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, developing resources (both human assistance and physical supplies), and enhancing opportunities for research training.
The differences in the case studies illuminate a variety of research designs, methods, outcome measures, and strategies for implementation that can be used in practice settings. The wisdom of those who have gone before can help inform future research on psychological interventions in pediatric clinical settings.
Citation:
Drotar, D., Cortina, S., Rohan, J. M., Somers, M., Hilliard, M. E., & Maddux, M. (2014). Conducting psychological intervention research in pediatric settings: Strategies and implications. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 2, 194–205.
Note: This article is in the Clinical Psychology topic area. View more articles in the Clinical Psychology topic area.