iParent2Parent Program for Parents of Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

The iParent2Parent Program: Peer Mentoring for Parents of Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

The iParent2Parent program matches parents of children living with arthritis with a trained parent mentor who will provide parents of children newly diagnosed with arthritis: practical coping advice and social support through shared lived experiences. This study will compare two groups of parents: those who are in the iParent2Parent program and those in the control group (no mentor).

Parents/primary caregiver of children with JIA are an often overlooked but essential member of their child's health care team. They are responsible for managing their child's treatment program, and act as advocates for their child to support positive adaptation to JIA and to learn self-management skills for the disease. This is in the context of managing the financial, logistical, emotional, and social demands of parenting in general. Within pediatric tertiary care centres, peer-support programs for parents of children with JIA are often limited or difficult to access. The iParent2Parent Program aims to fill this gap in services by offering a program of trained parent peer mentors who can provide practical coping advice, foster adaptive problem solving, and provide social support via shared lived experience.

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking caregiver of a child diagnosed with JIA according to ILAR criteria prior to their 18th birthday
• Access to computer capable of using free Skype software

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant cognitive impairment or major co-morbid illness of parent that impeded ability to engage in program (e.g.; psychosis, active suicidal ideation, cognitive delays that would impact ability to participate and complete questionnaires.)