Utility of a virtual small group cognitive behaviour program for autistic children during the pandemic: evidence from a community-based implementation study

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dc.contributor.authorLee, Vivian
dc.contributor.authorVashi, Nisha
dc.contributor.authorRoudbarani, Flora
dc.contributor.authorModica, Paula Tablon
dc.contributor.authorPouyandeh, Ava
dc.contributor.authorSellitto, Teresa
dc.contributor.authorIbrahim, Alaa
dc.contributor.authorAmeis, Stephanie H
dc.contributor.authorElkader, Alex
dc.contributor.authorGray, Kylie M
dc.contributor.authorKerns, Connor M
dc.contributor.authorLai, Meng-Chuan
dc.contributor.authorLake, Johanna
dc.contributor.authorThomson, Kendra
dc.contributor.authorWeiss, Jonathan A
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-02T22:42:54Z
dc.date.available2024-10-02T22:42:54Z
dc.date.issued2024-05-30
dc.description.abstractBackground: Autistic children often experience socioemotional difficulties relating to emotion regulation and mental health problems. Supports for autistic children involve the use of adapted interventions that target emotion regulation and social skills, alongside mental health symptoms. The Secret Agent Society Small Group (SAS: SG), an adapted cognitive behavioural program, has demonstrated efficacy through lab-delivered randomized control trials. However, research is still needed on its effectiveness when delivered by publicly funded, community-based autism providers under real-world ecologically valid conditions, especially within the context of a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to community-based supports and services for autistic children, and programs have adapted their services to online platforms. However, questions remain about the feasibility and clinical utility of evidence-based interventions and services delivered virtually in community-based settings. Methods: The 9-week SAS: SG program was delivered virtually by seven community-based autism service providers during 2020–2021. The program included the use of computer-based games, role-playing tasks, and home missions. Caregivers completed surveys at three timepoints: pre-, post-intervention, and after a 3-month follow-up session. Surveys assessed caregivers’ perception of the program’s acceptability and level of satisfaction, as well as their child’s social and emotional regulation skills and related mental health challenges. Results: A total of 77 caregivers (94% gender identity females; Mean = 42.1 years, SD = 6.5 years) and their children (79% gender identity males; Mean = 9.9 years, SD = 1.3 years) completed the SAS: SG program. Caregivers agreed that the program was acceptable (95%) and were highly satisfied (90%). Caregivers reported significant reduction in their child’s emotion reactivity from pre- to post-intervention (-1.78 (95% CI, -3.20 to -0.29), p = 0.01, d = 0.36), that continued to decrease after the 3-month booster session (-1.75 (95% CI, -3.34 to -0.16), p = 0.02, d = 0.33). Similarly, improvements in anxiety symptoms were observed (3.05 (95% CI, 0.72 to 5.36), p = 0.006, d = 0.39). Conclusions: As online delivery of interventions for autistic children remains popular past the pandemic, our findings shed light on future considerations for community-based services, including therapists and agency leaders, on how best to tailor and optimally deliver virtually based programming. Trial registration: This study has been registered with ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN98068608) on 15/09/2023. The study was retroactively registered.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study was supported by the Kids Brain Health Network, and by the York Research Chair in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disability Mental Health.
dc.format.mediumElectronic
dc.identifier.issn1472-6963
dc.identifier.other685
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11033-9
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42333
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer Nature
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.publisherCC BY
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectHealth services and systems
dc.subjectHealth sciences
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectMind and body
dc.subjectClinical trials and supportive activities
dc.subjectPediatric
dc.subjectSocial determinants of health
dc.subjectBrain disorders
dc.subjectMental illness
dc.subjectClinical research
dc.subjectBehavioral and social science
dc.subjectIntellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
dc.subjectAutism
dc.subjectPsychological and behavioural
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectGood health and well being
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectChild
dc.subjectAutistic disorder
dc.subjectCognitive behavioral therapy
dc.subjectSARS-CoV-2
dc.subjectPandemics
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectEmotional regulation
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshCOVID-19
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshChild
dc.subject.meshAutistic Disorder
dc.subject.meshCognitive Behavioral Therapy
dc.subject.meshSARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.meshPandemics
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshEmotional Regulation
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshAutistic Disorder
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshChild
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshPandemics
dc.subject.meshCognitive Behavioral Therapy
dc.subject.meshEmotional Regulation
dc.subject.meshCOVID-19
dc.subject.meshSARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshCOVID-19
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshChild
dc.subject.meshAutistic Disorder
dc.subject.meshCognitive Behavioral Therapy
dc.subject.meshSARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.meshPandemics
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshEmotional Regulation
dc.symplectic.issue1
dc.symplectic.journalBMC Health Services Research
dc.symplectic.pagination685-
dc.symplectic.subtypeJournal article
dc.symplectic.volume24
dc.titleUtility of a virtual small group cognitive behaviour program for autistic children during the pandemic: evidence from a community-based implementation study
dc.typeArticle

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