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Spina BifidaALIGNNCT07531862

Spina Bifida Healthcare Navigator Program

A study testing Behavioral Treatment in people with Spina Bifida, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Many adults with spina bifida experience difficulties managing their health-such as coordinating care across multiple providers, keeping up with medications, and navigating insurance systems. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Spina Bifida
What is being tested?
Behavioral Treatment
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
24 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
15 Apr 2026to Sep 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults (18 years or older) diagnosed with spina bifida (SB), including any type (e.g., myelomeningocele, meningocele, lipomyelomeningocele).
  • Individuals who are able to participate in educational and interactive sessions (in-person at UPMC Mercy or remotely via secure teleconferencing).
  • English fluency

Who cannot join

  • Under 18 years of age
  • Non-English fluency

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Pittsburgh/UPMC

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Spina Bifida Healthcare Navigator Program: A Pilot Trial of the ALIGN Contextual-Behavioral Intervention

Many adults with spina bifida experience difficulties managing their health-such as coordinating care across multiple providers, keeping up with medications, and navigating insurance systems. These tasks require strong thinking skills like planning, organizing, and problem-solving, which are often called "executive functions." Many adults with spina bifida have challenges with these skills due to differences in brain development associated with the condition. When a person's thinking abilities do not match the demands placed on them by their healthcare and daily routines, health problems often follow. Despite this, very few programs exist to help adults with spina bifida address this gap.

This study tests a new program called ALIGN (Navigating Life with Spina Bifida), developed at the UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic. ALIGN was co-designed with a healthcare provider who is also an adult living with spina bifida. The program helps participants improve the fit between their abilities and their environment through two approaches: building personal skills and strategies, and arranging supports and routines to make demands more manageable. ALIGN includes six virtual group sessions and one individual session with a clinician.

Participants will be adults (age 18 or older) with spina bifida. They will complete questionnaires before and after the program measuring confidence in managing health, mood, and ability to participate in daily activities. A separate group of participants who do not take part in ALIGN will complete the same questionnaires for comparison. The main goals are to determine whether ALIGN is practical to deliver, acceptable to participants, and associated with early signs of benefit.

Conditions
Spina Bifida
Being tested
Behavioral Treatment
Keywords
spina bifida, executive functioning, neuropsychology, rehabilitation psychology, health behavior, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, myelomeningocele, self-management
Medical subject headings
Spinal Dysraphism, Health Behavior, Meningomyelocele

What participants receive

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

  • Behavioral TreatmentBehavioural

    Also called Spina Bifida Healthcare Navigator Program

    The intervention being tested in this study (ALIGN) is designed to improve the fit between an individual's abilities and their environment. This is accomplished through two complementary approaches: building personal skills and strategies ("build"), and arranging supports and routines to make demands more manageable ("scaffold"). ALIGN includes six virtual group sessions and one individual session with a clinician. The intervention fits within the broad umbrella of "third-wave" cognitive-behavioral therapies. It emphasizes psychological flexibility as an important treatment component.

Study groups in NCT07531862
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
InterventionExperimentalParticipants in this arm will engage in the experimental intervention (ALIGN), which is a six-session, group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program that is followed by a seventh, individual coaching session with a study clinician. Relevant data will be collected pre-/post-intervention
Receives: Behavioral: Behavioral Treatment
ControlNo interventionParticipants in this arm will participate in a waitlist control condition. Data will collected at a time interval that approximates the intervention arm.

What is being measured

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

  1. Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)

    This measure assesses perceived acceptability of an intervention. The scale consists of 4 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). Scores are calculated as the mean of all items, yielding a score range of 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater perceived acceptability. No items are reverse scored.

    Measured: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)

  2. Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)

    This measure assesses perceived appropriateness of an intervention, defined as its perceived fit, relevance, or compatibility for a given context or population. The scale consists of 4 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). Scores are calculated as the mean of all items, yielding a score range of 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater perceived appropriateness. No items are reverse scored.

    Measured: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)

  3. Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)

    This measure assesses perceived feasibility of implementing an intervention within a given setting. The scale consists of 4 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). Scores are calculated as the mean of all items, yielding a score range of 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate greater perceived feasibility. No items are reverse scored.

    Measured: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Change in PROMIS Depression Measure

    This measure assesses severity of depressive symptoms, including affective and cognitive components of depression. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to the U.S. general population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  2. Change in Partners in Health (PIH) Scale

    The PIH Scale assesses self-management capacity in individuals with chronic health conditions, including knowledge, treatment adherence, symptom monitoring, and management of physical, emotional, and social impacts. The scale includes 12 items, each rated from 0 to 8, producing a total score range of 0-96. Higher scores indicate greater self-management capacity. Item scores are summed to compute the total score; subscale scores (e.g., condition and treatment knowledge, coping, condition management, treatment adherence) may also be examined descriptively but are not required for total score computation.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  3. Change in Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2 (AAQ-2)

    The AAQ-2 measures psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance, core constructs within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The scale contains 7 items, each rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1-7), yielding a total score range of 7-49. Higher total scores indicate greater psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance, whereas lower scores indicate greater psychological flexibility. Items are summed after required reverse scoring to produce the total score.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  4. Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Daily Activities)

    This measure assesses perceived confidence in performing various activities of daily living related to chronic health conditions, such as routine tasks, exercise, and managing activities in challenging situations. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to a calibration population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater self-efficacy in managing daily activities. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  5. Change in PROMIS Participation Measure

    This measure assesses perceived ability to participate in social roles and activities, including work, family, and community functioning. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to the U.S. general population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater ability to participate in social roles and activities. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  6. Change in PROMIS Anxiety Measure

    This measure assesses severity of anxiety symptoms, including fear, worry, and physiological arousal. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to the U.S. general population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater anxiety symptom severity. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  7. Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Symptoms)

    This measure assesses perceived confidence in the ability to manage and control symptoms associated with chronic health conditions across a variety of settings and situations. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to a calibration population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater self-efficacy in managing symptoms. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  8. Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Medications and Treatments)

    This measure assesses perceived confidence in managing medication regimens and treatment-related tasks associated with chronic health conditions, including adherence, scheduling, and navigating treatment decisions. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to a calibration population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater self-efficacy in managing medications and treatments. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  9. Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Emotions)

    This measure assesses perceived confidence in managing emotional responses related to living with chronic health conditions, including worry, frustration, and discouragement. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to a calibration population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater self-efficacy in managing emotions. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

  10. Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Social Interactions)

    This measure assesses perceived confidence in managing social situations and interpersonal interactions related to living with chronic health conditions, including communicating needs and participating in social activities. Scores are reported as T-scores standardized to a calibration population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater self-efficacy in managing social interactions. Scores are generated using PROMIS computer adaptive testing algorithms based on item response theory; raw item scores are not summed.

    Measured: Enrollment to approximately two months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted15 Apr 2026
  2. Study start15 Apr 2026
  3. Primary completionAug 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionSep 2026 (estimated)

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This is a preliminary, pilot study with an intervention group and waitlist control group. Data will be collected pre-/post- for intervention group participants and at a similar time interval for control group participants. The goal of this study is to assess basic feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary signs of promise to support larger, more robust trials.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
24 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07531862
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY25050157
Acronym
ALIGN
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
1 Apr 2026
Last updated
4 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: No. This study is a small, pilot, underpowered feasibility project designed to assess acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary signals rather than to support confirmatory hypothesis testing. The sample size and study design limit the reliability and generalizability of individual participant data for secondary analyses, and no formal data-sharing infrastructure or governance plan was established for this pilot. Aggregate results may be disseminated through scholarly publication, but individual participant-level data will not be shared.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Behavioral Treatment in people with Spina Bifida, run by University of Pittsburgh 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 3 inclusion and 2 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. 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.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) (time frame: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)). The study lists 3 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 4 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 29 Oct 2026.

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