A parenting course to reduce behavioural difficulties and improve the quality of life for families of those diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

INTERVENTION: Families will be randomised 1:1 into the intervention or control arm. The intervention arm is SPECIFIC, a seven‐week course where families meet online each week for 2.5 hours per week. Families will be trained in groups of 6 families. There are two facilitators, one is a trainer and the other is an FASD‐experienced parent. All materials and information in the intervention are contained in a manual. The primary outcome measure for efficacy (Parenting Stress Index, PSI) will be used to compare the SPECIFIC arm against treatment as usual at 16 weeks, after which the control arm will receive the intervention. CONDITION: Stress reduction in families diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; Primary outcomes for this feasibility study:; 1. Percentage of eligible parents invited who agree to participate measured using Clinic Registers at ‐4 and 0 weeks; 2. Percentage of those participating who complete the study measured using intervention register at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; ; Primary efficacy outcome (proof‐of‐concept):; 1. Parent stress measured using the Parenting Stress Index 4th edition Short Form (PSI‐4‐SF) at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Children's behavioural difficulties measured using SDQ Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 2. Children's behavioural difficulties measured using ECBI Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventor at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 3. Parents’ psychological wellbeing measured using CORE‐OM The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 4. Parenting self‐efficacy measured using TOPSE Tool to measure Parenting Self‐Efficacy at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 5. Parent's health‐related quality of life measured using EQ‐5D‐5L Tool at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 6. Parent and Child health and social care service use measured using CSRI Client Service Receipt Inventory at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 7. Parent satisfaction ratings measured using the Session Evaluation Form at each session, i.e. at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 weeks; 8. Parent knowledge measured using FASD Knowledge Questionnaire at 0, 8 and 16 weeks; 8. Acceptability (qualitative) measured using qualitative interviews at 16 weeks (subsample); INCLUSION CRITERIA: For the inde Xchild: 1. Aged 5 to 12 years old (school years 1 to 7) 2. Diagnosis in line with internationally agreed criteria for FASD 3. Diagnosed within the previous three years For parents: 1. Able to commit to the whole seven sessions 2. Willing to wait for intervention if required