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Iron Deficiency AnemiaPhase 3NCT04371536

Oral Iron Versus Oral Iron Plus a Web-based Behavioral Intervention in Young Children (IRONCHILD)

A Phase 3 study testing Ferrous Sulfate and IRONCHILD in people with Iron Deficiency Anemia and Iron-deficiency, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects nearly half a million young children in the United States. Most children take liquid iron medicine by mouth for at least 3 months. However, some children take longer to get better with this medicine. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 12 to 48 months
Conditions the study is for
Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron-deficiency
What is being tested?
Ferrous Sulfate and IRONCHILD
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
9 Jul 2021to 9 Mar 2022
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 12 to 48 months
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age greater than or equal to 12 months to less than 48 months
  • Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) confirmed by hematologic indices and iron laboratory parameters*
  • Hgb between greater than or equal to 6 g/dL AND less than or equal to 10 g/dL
  • MCV less than or equal to 70 fl
  • Ferritin less than or equal to 15 ng/mL OR TIBC greater than or equal to 425 microgram/dL *CBC indices must be performed with 7 days of study enrollment. Iron indices must be performed within 30 days of study enrollment.
  • Clinical history consistent with nutritional IDA such as prolonged breastfeeding without adequate iron supplementation or excessive milk intake (cow milk, almond milk, soy milk, goat milk or other milk, excluding breastmilk), defined as greater than or equal to 3 cups (24 ounces)per day
  • Primary language of English or Spanish
  • Access to smartphone with data plan and/or other internet access (i.e. home computer)

Who cannot join

  • Iron deficiency likely or definitely due to blood loss from the intestine or other sites.
  • Administration of a blood transfusion
  • History or evidence of intestinal malabsorption
  • History of prior intravenous iron therapy
  • Major co-morbidity such as a serious chronic medical condition unrelated to iron deficiency apparent on history, physical examination, or laboratory tests
  • Other cause of anemia (sickle cell disease, thalassemia, bone marrow failure, etc.) apparent by history, physical examination, and/or laboratory tests.
  • Inability to tolerate oral medications
  • Other medical or social factors at discretion of treating physician

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Texas Children's Hospital

    Houston, Texas, 77030

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Single-Center, Open-Label, Randomized Feasibility Trial of Standard Oral Iron Therapy Versus Oral Iron Plus a Web-based Behavioral Intervention in Young Children With Nutritional Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects nearly half a million young children in the United States. Most children take liquid iron medicine by mouth for at least 3 months. However, some children take longer to get better with this medicine. This study is trying to compare different ways of giving iron medicine to young children.

For young children in the US, the main cause of IDA is nutritional, or not having enough iron in the foods they eat. This often happens when kids drink too much cow milk and/or not eating enough foods that have a lot of iron. Iron deficiency is most common in children ages 1 to 4 years of age, during a time that is important for brain development. More severe and long-lasting IDA is associated with worse brain development outcomes. That is why researchers want to understand the fastest way for kids with IDA to get better.

Read more

Standard treatment is oral iron medicine for 3 to 6 months. Many children do not take their iron medicine the full amount of time needed because of side effects like abdominal discomfort, nausea, constipation, and bad taste. Different factors can contribute to patients not completing their IDA therapy. Many families do not understand how important it is to treat IDA or do not have the motivation to continue the medication.

This study will offer different methods for treating IDA, including a different method to taking the oral iron therapy.

This new method gives oral iron by increasing a family's understanding and motivation. Another research study that interviewed families of young children with IDA found ways that helped the patients to continue their therapy. Using that information, a website called IRONCHILD was created to help motivate parents to get their children to continue the oral iron medicine.

Research studies that compare these different IDA treatment methods in young children are needed and could have benefits to short-term clinical and long-term brain development. However, we do not know whether families of young children with IDA will be willing to participate in this type of study that has different treatment methods (oral iron therapy and oral iron therapy with a web-based adherence intervention).

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn which of the two methods of care will be the best way for children with iron deficiency anemia to receive therapy.

Read the detailed description

First, the doctor will confirm that patients are eligible for the study. Patients will complete the following procedures:

  • Medical history including prior hospitalizations, lab results, medications, diet, social and family history
  • Comprehensive Physical Examination which includes measurement of vital signs, examination of the head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen, and skin.
  • Blood samples: Patients will not have any extra blood draws for this study, as the investigators will draw the blood during routine blood draws. Investigators will ask to take a little extra blood (less than half a teaspoon) for research tests. All other blood draws that patients have while on study will be for routine care and not for research purposes.

Patients will be on the study for 12 weeks. Patients will receive dietary counseling on the amount of cow milk they may have and information sheets on iron-rich foods.

There are 2 different treatments in this study and patients cannot choose which treatment they receive. Instead, they will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. That means there is a 50-50 chance that patients will receive liquid iron medicine by itself or that patients will receive liquid iron medicine with access to the website.

Depending on which method of care patients are assigned to, they will complete the following procedures below.

  1. Oral Iron Therapy: Patients will receive liquid iron medicine by mouth once per day for 12 weeks. Patients will first receive this medicine during their first visit. During the Week 4 visit, patients will compete the following procedures:
  • Blood Samples: Patients will not have any extra blood draws (pokes) for this study as blood for research will be collected during routine blood draws. About less than half a teaspoon of extra blood will be drawn for research tests. All other blood draws that patients have while on study will be for routine care and not for research purposes
  • Focused Physical Exam which includes measurement of vital signs, examination of the eyes, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen, and skin.
  • Patients will be asked of any side effects that they may be having. During the Week 8 visit, patients will return to the clinic only to pick up the oral iron medicine. During the Week 12 visit, patients will complete the following procedures:
  • Medical history including prior hospitalizations, lab results, medications, diet, social and family history
  • Blood Samples: Patients will not have any extra blood draws (pokes) for this study as blood for research will be collected during routine blood draws. About less than half a teaspoon of extra blood will be drawn for research tests.
  • Focused Physical Exam which includes measurement of vital signs, examination of the abdomen and skin.
  • Patients will be asked of any side effects that they may be having.
  1. Oral Iron Therapy and IRONCHILD:

Patients will receive liquid iron medicine by mouth once per day for 12 weeks. Patients will receive this medication during their first visit. Patients will also be given access to a website called IRONCHILD. Patients will be shown the website, including videos, at each in-clinic visit (Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12). This website was created for patients and their parent/guardian to help patients learn more about the importance of taking their oral iron therapy.

The study team will show patients how to use the website. Patients will be given a unique log-in and password with instructions on how to access the site between visits. There are 3 sessions (one per clinic visit). One session will be completed per visit, and each session should be about 15 minutes or less. Patients will also be able to access this website from home.

During the Week 4 visit, patients will compete the following procedures:

  • Blood Samples: Patients will not have any extra blood draws (pokes) for this study as blood for research will be collected during routine blood draws. About less than half a teaspoon of extra blood will be drawn for research tests. All other blood draws that patients have while on study will be for routine care and not for research purposes.
  • Focused Physical Exam which includes measurement of vital signs, examination of the eyes, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen, and skin.
  • Patients will be asked of any side effects that they may be having.

During the Week 8 Visit, patients will return to the clinic only to pick up their oral iron medicine.

During the Week 12 visit, patients will complete the following procedures:

  • Medical history including prior hospitalizations, lab results, medications, diet, social and family history
  • Blood Samples: Patients will not have any extra blood draws (pokes) for this study as blood for research will be collected during routine blood draws. About less than half a teaspoon of extra blood will be drawn for research tests. All other blood draws that patients have while on study will be for routine care and not for research purposes
  • Focused Physical Exam which includes measurement of vital signs, examination of the abdomen and skin.
  • Patients will be asked of any side effects that they may be having.
Being tested
Ferrous Sulfate, IRONCHILD
Keywords
Iron Deficiency Anemia, Nutritional iron deficiency, Ferrous sulfate oral liquid formulation
Medical subject headings
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Ferrous SulfateDrug

    Also called Feosol, Fer-Iron

    Patients receive ferrous sulfate 3 mg/kg elemental iron once daily in liquid formulation.

  • IRONCHILDBehavioural

    Also called Web-based intervention

    Delivery of the intervention at each visit should take 15 minutes or less.

    • Baseline visit (Session 1) content will be viewed
    • At 1-month follow-up visit, additional (Session 2) content will be viewed
    • At 3-month final visit, patients will view final (Session 3) content
Study groups in NCT04371536
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm A: Oral iron therapyActive comparatorArm A is standard oral iron therapy for 3 months.
Receives: Drug: Ferrous Sulfate
Arm B: Oral iron therapy plus IRONCHILD web-based interventionExperimentalOral iron therapy as per Arm A plus the IRONCHILD web-based intervention aimed at promoting oral iron adherence. This web-based intervention was developed specifically for caregivers of young children with nutritional iron deficiency anemia to promote oral iron adherence.
Receives: Drug: Ferrous Sulfate; Behavioral: IRONCHILD

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percentage of Eligible Patients Enrolled

    We hypothesized that 50% or more of eligible patients would enroll the study.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Percentage of Enrolled Subjects Who Agree With Randomization

    We hypothesized that randomization would be feasible, defined as agreement with randomization in greater than or equal to 80% of enrolled subjects per arm.

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 May 2020
  2. Study start9 Jul 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Feb 2022
  4. Study completion9 Mar 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
1 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04371536
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-45869 IRONCHILD
Other IDs
K23HL132001
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
29 Apr 2020
Last updated
6 May 2023
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Ferrous Sulfate and IRONCHILD in people with Iron Deficiency Anemia and Iron-deficiency, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 6 May 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percentage of Eligible Patients Enrolled (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 May 2023.

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