The primary aim of the project is to develop and pilot a manualized, individually delivered Parent Training Program for Feeding Problems (PT-F) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to assess feasibility and parent acceptance of the program. The secondary aim of the project is to assess the success of the PT-F program in improving mealtime behavior problems when compared to the wait-list control. Exploratory aims include obtaining preliminary data on the impact of PT-F on child and parent functioning (reducing parent stress and improving parent sense of competency and parent-child interactions at mealtime), assessing the impact of treatment on interfering behaviors around mealtime/snack times, and measuring nutritional improvements after treatment.
Fifty well characterized children will be randomly assigned to either the 20 week PT-F or a waitlist control group. Study assessments evaluating feeding and mealtime behaviors, nutritional intake, daytime behaviors, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, parent stress and parent-child interactions will be completed at Baseline, Week 10, and Week 20 timepoints. Treatment Fidelity forms will be completed by the therapist at the end of each treatment session to assess achievement of session goals and parent adherence during each session.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
54
An 11-session manualized behavioral parent training program for the treatment of feeding problems teaching parents to use a range of behavioral procedures to address a variety of common feeding problems.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States
Number of Subjects with Complete Data
Measure of feasibility of randomized controlled trial by successful recruitment of 50 subjects with complete data collected from \> 80% (\> 40) subjects.
Time frame: Week 20
Treatment Fidelity
Measure of therapists' ability to deliver PT-F with \> 80% average fidelity as rated by fidelity checklists
Time frame: Week 20
Parent Adherence
Measure of parent adherence to the intervention as evidenced by average attendance of \> 80% of scheduled sessions and successful completion of \> 70% of session activities as rated from adherence checklists.
Time frame: Week 20
Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI)
Measure of mealtime behavior problems
Time frame: Baseline, Week 10, Week 20
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