Participants
CHD
GENETIC CONDITION, RECRUITMENT
All children receiving elective treatment via cardiac surgery or catheterization intervention for CHD at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) are eligible if they are 3 to 72 months of age. Patients with genetic conditions or physical disabilities affecting motor development, lack of independent limb movement, receiving medical care that is incompatible with the study assessments, or receiving emergency treatment are excluded. Total planned enrollment is 56 children, allowing for a sufficient sample (n = 48) to have 80% power to detect a difference in daily physical activity of 20% with alpha = 0.10 and allowing for a 15% drop-out rate.Scheduled treatment procedures are reviewed weekly to identify eligible patients. Families are contacted by a member of the circle of care 4 to 6 weeks prior to the treatment (surgery or catheterization) date. Those willing to speak with the researcher are provided detailed information about the study. Families consenting to the child’s study participation provide written informed consent and complete the baseline assessment during the first study visit, with families choosing to have the visit in conjunction with the pre-treatment clinic visit or on a separate day. Given the young age of the participants, assent is assumed through the children’s willingness to perform the study activities. Some CHD diagnoses are more common in males, so recruitment of females is enhanced to target equal sex representation in the study sample. The cardiologist responsible for the child’s care approves their enrolment into the study and their continued participation prior to each study visit. The cardiologist also specifies any medically necessary activity restrictions that apply to the child. The approach and enrollment of patients is documented according to the CONSORT guidelines [