CO-produced Nature-based Intervention Feasibility for children with ADHD Study: The CONIFAS2 study protocol.

INTRODUCTION

Children with ADHD face significant unmet needs for timely post-diagnostic support in UK NHS services. Nature-based interventions represent a promising under-researched adjunct to conventional treatment. The CONIFAS2 study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of a co-produced, home-based, nature-based intervention embedded in NHS neurodiversity services.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a feasibility randomised controlled trial assessing recruitment, retention, intervention fidelity, data collection and acceptability of both the intervention and trial design. Participants will be children diagnosed with ADHD and their parent/guardian recruited as a dyad from NHS neurodiversity services. Following baseline assessment, dyads will be randomised to either intervention, which consists of structured daily nature-based activities with psychoeducational support, delivered alongside treatment as usual, or treatment as usual only. A mixed methods process evaluation, will refine a programme theory and identify barriers and facilitators to intervention delivery, engagement and implementation in a future definitive trial. A feasibility health economic evaluation will assess the feasibility of collecting resource use, cost and health-related quality of life data to inform a future cost-effectiveness analysis.

DISSEMINATION: Findings will inform a future definitive trial and be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and community partners.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN15490570.