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.
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
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- 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
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 group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Participants 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 |
| Control | No intervention | Participants 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.
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
- First posted15 Apr 2026
- Study start15 Apr 2026
- Primary completionAug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Spina BifidaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Fisa Foundation
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ted Allaire Barrios, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Ted A Barrios, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Pittsburgh
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.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Spina Bifida Healthcare Navigator Program: A Pilot Trial of the ALIGN Contextual-Behavioral Intervention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07531862
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ALIGN / STUDY25050157
- Conditions
- Spina Bifida
- Keywords
- spina bifida, executive functioning, neuropsychology, rehabilitation psychology, health behavior, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, myelomeningocele
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Fisa Foundation
- Study start
- 15 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- 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.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Behavioral TreatmentParticipants 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 |
| Control | No intervention | –Participants in this arm will participate in a waitlist control condition. Data will collected at a time interval that approximates the intervention arm. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Under 18 years of age
- Non-English fluency
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral TreatmentAlso: Spina Bifida Healthcare Navigator ProgramThe 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. | Behavioural | Intervention |
Primary outcome
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
Time frame: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)
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.
Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM)
Time frame: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)
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.
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)
Time frame: post-intervention (approximately two months after enrollment; administered only to participants assigned to the intervention group)
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.
10 secondary outcomes
Change in PROMIS Depression Measure
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in Partners in Health (PIH) Scale
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2 (AAQ-2)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Daily Activities)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Participation Measure
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Anxiety Measure
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Symptoms)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Medications and Treatments)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Emotions)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Change in PROMIS Self-Efficacy (Managing Social Interactions)
Time frame: Enrollment to approximately two months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: 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.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ted A Barrios, PhD principal investigator
University of Pittsburgh
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
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.