Patterns of intervention utilization among school-aged children on the autism spectrum: Findings from a multi-site research consortium. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sridhar, Aksheya; Kuhn, Jocelyn; Faja, Susan; Sabatos-DeVito, Maura; Nikolaeva, Julia I.; Dawson, Geraldine; Nelson, Charles A.; Webb, Sara J.; Bernier, Raphael; Jeste, Shafali; Chawarska, Katarzyna; Sugar, Catherine A.; Shic, Frederick; Naples, Adam; Dziura, James; McPartland, James C.; the ABC-CT Consortium,
• Is Part Of: Research in autism spectrum disorders. Volume 94(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Autism spectrum disorder -- Child characteristics -- Family characteristics -- Geographical location -- Intervention use; Autism spectrum disorders -- Periodicals; 616.85882005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2022.101950
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-9467

Abstract

Abstract: When designing and interpreting results from clinical trials evaluating treatments for children on the autism spectrum, a complicating factor is that most children receive a range of concurrent treatments. Thus, it is important to better understand the types and hours of interventions that participants typically receive as part of standard of care, as well as to understand the child, family, and geographic factors that are associated with different patterns of service utilization. In this multi-site study, we interviewed 280 caregivers of 6-to-11-year-old school-aged children on the autism spectrum about the types and amounts of interventions their children received in the prior 6 weeks. Reported interventions were coded as " evidence-based practice" or " other interventions, " reflecting the level of empirical support. Results indicated that children received a variety of interventions with varying levels of empirical evidence and a wide range of hours (0–79.3 h/week). Children with higher autism symptom levels, living in particular states, and who identified as non-Hispanic received more evidence-based intervention hours. Higher parental education level related to more hours of other interventions. Children who were younger, had lower cognitive ability, and with higher autism symptom levels received a greater variety of interventions overall. Thus, based on our findings, it would seem prudent when designing clinical trials to take into consideration a variety of factors including autism symptom levels, age, cognitive ability, ethnicity, parent education and geographic location. Future research should continue to investigate the ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic influences on school-aged intervention services. Highlights: Parents of school-aged autistic children were asked about intervention use. Child, family, and geographic factors were associated with intervention use. Children received interventions with varying levels of empirical support. Children spent a wide range of hours receiving intervention. Research should further explore and consider these associations in clinical trials.