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Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy-Generalised (PACT-G) against treatment as usual for reducing symptom severity in young children with autism spectrum disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
- Source :
-
Trials [Trials] 2018 Sep 21; Vol. 19 (1), pp. 514. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Sep 21. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: Prior evidence shows that behaviours closely related to the intervention delivered for autism are amenable to change, but it is more difficult to generalise treatment effects beyond the intervention context. We test an early autism intervention designed to promote generalisation of therapy-acquired skills into home and school contexts to improve adaptive function and reduce symptoms. A detailed mechanism study will address the process of such generalisation. Objective 1 will be to test if the PACT-G intervention improves autism symptom outcome in the home and school context of the intervention as well as in the primary outcome research setting. Objective 2 will use the mechanism analysis to test for evidence of acquired skills from intervention generalizing across contexts and producing additive effects on primary outcome.<br />Methods/design: This is a three-site, two-parallel-group, randomised controlled trial of the experimental treatment plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU alone. Children aged 2-11 years (nā=ā244 (122 intervention/122 TAU; ~ā82/site) meeting criteria for core autism will be eligible. The experimental intervention builds on a clinic-based Pre-school Autism Communication Treatment model (PACT), delivered with the primary caregiver, combined with additional theory- and evidence-based strategies designed to enhance the generalisation of effects into naturalistic home and education contexts. The control intervention will be TAU.<br />Primary Outcome: autism symptom outcome, researcher-assessed using a standardised protocol.<br />Secondary Outcomes: autism symptoms, child interaction with parent or teacher, language and reported functional outcomes in home and school settings. Outcomes measured at baseline and 12-month endpoint in all settings with interim interaction measurements (7 months) to test treatment effect mechanisms. Primary analysis will estimate between-group difference in primary outcome using analysis of covariance with test of homogeneity of effect across age group. Mechanism analysis will use regression models to test for mediation on primary outcome by parent-child and teaching staff-child social interaction.<br />Discussion: This is an efficacy and mechanism trial of generalising evidence-based autism treatment into home and school settings. It will provide data on whether extending treatment across naturalistic contexts enhances overall effect and data on the mechanism in autism development of the generalisation of acquired developmental skills across contexts.<br />Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ID: 25378536 . Prospectively registered on 9 March 2016.
- Subjects :
- Age Factors
Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder psychology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Multicenter Studies as Topic
Parent-Child Relations
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Severity of Illness Index
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
United Kingdom
Autism Spectrum Disorder therapy
Child Behavior
Communication
Early Intervention, Educational methods
Generalization, Psychological
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1745-6215
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Trials
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30241574
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2881-3