Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
This proof-of-concept study addresses the gap in the access to care literature by examining a stepped-care version of a telehealth naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI), Online RIT. Online RIT is an interactive website introducing Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), an NDBI focused on enhancing social imitation. RIT uses a naturalistic behavioral approach to teach object and gesture imitation to young children with ASD within a play-based context. The efficacy of RIT has been demonstrated through a small randomized control trial, several single-subject design studies, as well as in independent replications. Prior research also suggests that parents can be taught to effectively use RIT with their children in person, and two single-subject design studies detail the development and feasibility testing of Online RIT plus therapist assistance. These preliminary data suggest Online RIT may serve as an ideal platform for examining the potential of individualized telehealth delivery formats, such as stepped-care. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compare a stepped-care format of Online RIT to a waitlist control condition to determine initial feasibility and effectiveness of this innovative intervention and service delivery model.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOnline RIT
Online RIT presents RIT techniques in four sequential learning modules: (1) Setting Up For Success (2) Imitating your Child (3) Describing Play (4) Teaching Object Imitation. Each learning module includes an instructional video, quiz, interactive exercises, and at-home planning and reflection. The website also includes a video library, Frequently Asked Questions, downloadable visual aids, links to relevant external resources, and a customizable dashboard that allows users to track their individualized goals and the amount of time they have spent working on their goals (e.g., practice log).
Sponsors
Rush University Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Months to 60 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Have a diagnosis of ASD or significant concerns of ASD * Parent reported imitation deficits
Exclusion criteria
* Children of parents who are non-English speaking * Actively participating in other parent training programs
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from Baseline RIT Parent Fidelity Form (RIT-PFF) Score at 15 weeks | Baseline and 15 weeks | Trained observers scored the parent-child interactions for parent fidelity of the RIT intervention techniques. |
| Change from Baseline Unstructured Imitation Assessment (UIA) Score at 15 weeks | Baseline and 15 weeks | The UIA was used to measure child social imitation. It is a standardized assessment that evaluates spontaneous imitation of actions with objects and gestures during play. |
| Change from Baseline Early Intervention Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (EIPSES) Score at 15 weeks | Baseline and 15 weeks | The EIPSES is a 20-item parent questionnaire designed to measure parenting efficacy within the context of early intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from Baseline Social Communication Checklist (SCC) Score at 15 weeks | Baseline and 15 weeks | The SCC is a 47-item checklist completed by parents to indicate if a child uses a specific social communication skill. |
| Change from Baseline Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQOL) Score at 15 weeks | Baseline and 15 weeks | The FQOL Scale is a 25-item self-report measure designed to assess family interaction, parenting, emotional well-being, physical/maternal well-being, and disability-related supports. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed