Jointly Managing JIA Online: An Internet-based Psycho-educational Game for Children With JIA and Their Parents

Jointly Managing JIA Online: An Internet-based Psycho-educational Game for Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Their Parents

Arthritis in children is a long-term illness and it can make a child's life very difficult. In children 8-11 years old, the child and their family work together to deal with the problems that arthritis can cause. Learning to cope with and manage the problems that come with arthritis can stop it from getting worse. It is important to create programs that teach children and families how to cope with and manage arthritis. This study will develop and test an online game that helps children learn how to better manage their arthritis. The goal of these studies is to test: (1) how easy to use and acceptable the online game is; and (2) if children who play the game feel less pain, have fewer limitations, and a better quality of life compared to children who do not play the game.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 8 and ≤ 11 years of age
2. Diagnosed with JIA (minimum 3 months) using International League of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria96
3. Active disease
4. Child and primary parent/caregiver are able to speak and read English or French
5. Participants are willing and able to complete online measures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cognitive impairments (as assessed by reviewing medical chart and consultation with the patient's rheumatologist)
2. Major co-morbid illnesses (e.g., medical [inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, diabetes] or psychiatric [depression, anxiety]) which may impact their ability to understand and use the game or complete outcome assessments (as determined by their rheumatologist).
3. Children currently participating in other Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions
4. Usability testing participants